JPH08185547A - Automatic toll collecting system for expressway - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the reliability by preventing on-vehicle communication equipment from being forged or the like by integrating the radio communication equipment, which is provided with a storage part for a car body identification code and its transmitting mechanism, into a number plate together with a forgery inhibiting means. CONSTITUTION: Concerning communication equipment 12 on the side of an automobile to be used for the automatic toll collecting system for expressway, a car body identification code storage part 21 composed of a semiconductor ROM stores the identification code peculiar to each car body and a transmitting part 22 transmits the car body identification code through an antenna 13 to toll collection related facilities while getting it on a radio signal. Besides, a receiving part 23 receives the radio signal transmitted from the toll collection related facilities through the antenna 13. Then, this communication equipment 2 is integrated into a little thickly formed number plate so as not to be forged and an indicator lamp such as a high-luminance LED for displaying the operating state of the communication equipment 12 is provided on the front surface of the number plate. Thus, the communication equipment loaded on the automobile side can be installed under public approval and illegal action such as forgery can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic toll collection system for an expressway, which can eliminate traffic congestion at a toll collection point, can be easily introduced, and can completely prevent the occurrence of fraud.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Traffic congestion at toll collection points on expressways has been a problem. As a method for solving this problem, an automatic toll collection system has been already proposed in which communication between a toll collection point and a car using an expressway allows the vehicle to pass through the toll collection point without stopping. In this system, an IC card with a built-in transmitting unit that can transmit a driver identification code that can identify a driver (driver) to a toll collection point is attached to a windshield or the like, and a driver identification code transmitted from the IC card is attached. The data is analyzed by a receiver installed at the toll collection point to identify the driver. By performing this operation twice at the entrance and exit of the expressway, the expressway usage fee is automatically calculated and the designated account is Is to be deducted from
Such systems are partially implemented in the United States and the United Kingdom.

[0003]

However, in this system, the communication device mounted on the vehicle side takes a form of an IC card or a form in which an independent device is newly installed in the vehicle.
Modification is relatively easy for those having electrical knowledge, and for example, it is impossible to completely eliminate fraudulent acts such as rewriting driver identification data and deducting a high-speed usage fee from another's account. In addition, it is unclear who or what administrative agency will supervise the installation work of this type of vehicle-side communication device, and in actual installation, the user will either install the vehicle after purchasing the vehicle body or outsource to a designated contractor. There is no other way than to have the equipment installed, and not only does the installation work take time, but the installed equipment itself is hardly officially approved. It is easy to cause. The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is possible to completely prevent improper activities such as modification of a communication device mounted on an automobile, and install the communication device with public approval. It is intended to provide a technology capable of greatly improving the reliability of an automatic toll collection system on a highway.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which has solved the above-mentioned problems, is directed to a wireless communication device having a vehicle body identification code storage section and a mechanism for transmitting the vehicle body identification code, with a modification prohibiting means. It is characterized in that it is built into the plate and used as communication equipment on the car side.

Various modifications are considered as means for prohibiting modification. For example, a license plate exterior body in which a communication device is incorporated is sealed, or a circuit board of the communication device or a main part is made of synthetic resin having high electric insulation. It is conceivable to fill them and completely cover these important points with synthetic resin. Further, a memory content erasing mechanism for erasing the memory content of the vehicle body identification code storage unit is provided in the wireless communication device in the license plate, while a damage detection mechanism for the license plate exterior body or a release detection mechanism for the license plate exterior body is provided. It is also possible to employ a detection signal of the damage detection mechanism or the opening detection mechanism as an operation signal of the memory content erasing mechanism.

[0006] Further, an indicator light for indicating the operation state of the wireless communication device incorporated in the license plate is provided on the license plate surface so that the automobile running on the highway can communicate with the toll collection facility at the entrance of the highway. It is also preferable to visually display whether the procedure has been completed normally. Here, the toll collection-related facility is a facility provided with communication equipment installed at the same place as a toll collection place conventionally installed at the entrance of an expressway, or installed on the underside of an expressway and further over the road. Refers to facilities equipped with communication equipment.

[0007] The wireless communication device incorporated in the license plate includes, for example, at least a vehicle identification code storage unit, a transmission unit for transmitting the vehicle identification code on a radio signal to a toll collection facility, and a toll collection facility. It is possible to employ a device that includes a receiving unit that receives a transmitted wireless signal, and a control unit that is interposed between the storage unit, the transmitting unit, and the receiving unit. It is also possible to construct a system in which the receiving unit is removed from the wireless communication device incorporated in the license plate.

[0008] The power to the wireless communication device in the license plate can be supplied from the vehicle battery.
For example, power for driving the wireless communication device in the license plate may be obtained from the received signal.

[0009] The wireless communication device in the license plate can also cooperate with an existing car navigation device. In this case, road information and the like are included in the radio signal transmitted from the fee collection facility.

Although the present system is based on specifying a high-speed toll payer by vehicle identification data, driver information may be managed in addition to vehicle identification data. For example, it is considered that an input device for managing driver information, such as a ten-key pad or a card reader, is installed in the vehicle, and on the other hand, a function of comparing and collating the driver information with the vehicle body identification data is added in the wireless communication device.

Since the main purpose of this system is automatic payment on expressways, the information such as the vehicle identification code collected in the toll collection facility is transmitted to the financial institution. It may be transmitted to the monitoring and enforcement agency of.

[0012]

The outline of the processing procedure of the automatic toll collection system for a highway having such a configuration includes a vehicle identification code transmitted by a wireless communication device incorporated in a license plate of an automobile at an entrance and an exit of the highway, respectively. The high-speed usage fee is automatically calculated by receiving and processing the radio signal by the fee collection-related facility, and the automatic debit is automatically deducted from the pre-registered designated account of the payer in association with the vehicle identification code. It has contents. There are other ways of paying the high-speed usage fee, but the common feature is that the user stops the car while driving on the highway and does not pay. Since the communication equipment on the automobile side is built into the license plate without modification, it is impossible to modify it. Conventionally, the Land Transport Office has been in charge of issuing and managing license plates, but if the Land Transport Office is still responsible for issuing license plates incorporating a wireless communication device, it is possible to centrally manage the body identification code by the administrative body. With this, the license plate issued has received official approval, and its reliability will be extremely high. In addition, license plates are often already installed at the time of purchase of the vehicle body by a distributor's proxy application, so expressway users can automatically install them in this system at the same time as purchasing the vehicle body without performing special installation procedures. it can.

[0013] This system is basically to automatically communicate between the communication equipment on the automobile side and the communication equipment installed in the charge collection facility without human intervention. However, the communication equipment on the automobile side is out of order or malfunctions. However, there is no possibility that an illegal stop of signal transmission from the vehicle-side communication facility for the purpose of the user's refusal to pay the expressway usage fee may occur. From such a viewpoint, it is effective to provide an indicator light on the surface of the license plate for indicating the operating state of the wireless communication device incorporated in the license plate. The indicator light attached to the surface of the license plate serves as an indicator that the communication equipment on the vehicle side is operating normally, or the vehicle normally communicates with the toll collection facilities at the highway entrance while driving on the highway. It can also be used as an index indicating that the processing has been completed.

There are the following three basic communication procedures between the vehicle-side communication facility and the toll collection facility. Claim 4
As described above, when the wireless communication device in the license plate has both the receiving unit and the transmitting unit, first, the call collection signal is transmitted from the fee collection related facility to the automobile side communication facility, and this call signal is transmitted. The vehicle-side communication facility that has received the radio signal returns a radio signal including the vehicle body identification code to the facility related to the fee collection. The toll collection facility that receives the wireless signal including the vehicle identification code verifies the vehicle identification code extracted from the wireless signal, and if the validity is confirmed, adds the entrance interchange name, date, time, etc. in addition to the vehicle identification code The added entry confirmation data is sent back to the vehicle-side communication equipment. The vehicle-side communication equipment reaches the exit of the expressway while temporarily storing the returned entry confirmation data. When approaching the expressway exit, the vehicle-side communication equipment sends back the temporarily stored entry confirmation data in response to an interrogation signal issued by the toll collection facility at the expressway exit. The toll collection facility that received the entry confirmation data extracts information such as the vehicle identification code, entrance interchange, date, and time from the entry confirmation data, calculates the expressway usage fee based on these information, and calculates the result. Is sent to the financial institution through an online communication network or the like, and the expressway usage fee is automatically deducted from the pre-registered designated account of the payer in association with the vehicle identification code.

There is also another communication procedure using the vehicle-side communication equipment according to claim 4. This method is based on the radio signal including the vehicle body identification code received from the vehicle side communication equipment, the vehicle body identification code to the entrance interchange name, date,
The process is the same as described above up to the creation of the route confirmation data with the time added, but the destination of the route confirmation data is sent to the central management center where the host computer is installed, not the vehicle-side communication equipment. Are different. On the exit side of the expressway, the exit side charge collection facility that received the radio signal containing the vehicle body identification code sends the vehicle body identification code to the centralized control center, and the centralized management center does everything from verification of the vehicle body identification code to calculation of the toll. I do.

Further, when the vehicle side communication equipment is not provided with the receiving part but only the transmitting part is provided as described in claim 5, in the system in which the centralized management center is interposed, the fee collection related from the vehicle side communication equipment is related. Instead of responding to the call signal from the toll collection-related facility, the driver gives a transmission instruction to the vehicle-side communication equipment at the discretion, instead of responding to the call signal from the toll-collection-related facility.

When the power source power generation unit for obtaining the power for driving the wireless communication device in the license plate from the received signal is provided in the license plate as described in claim 7, the power supply from the outside to the wireless communication device in the license plate is provided. No supply is required at all, and the license plate can be handled as a self-contained, completely independent body, so that the hermeticity can be further improved.

When the wireless communication device in the license plate and the existing car navigation device are linked as described in claim 8, road information and the like are included in the information sent from the fee collection related facility to the automobile side communication facility. By including it, it is possible to contribute to safe driving and to provide useful information to the driver.

When the input device for managing the driver information is installed in the vehicle as described in claim 9, the entered driver information and the vehicle body identification data are compared and collated, and the highway use fee is paid by the matching. If the driver's intention is to be confirmed, or if the driver is constantly changing, such as in a rental car, the driver information is given priority over the vehicle identification code when identifying the account for paying the expressway usage fee.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, if the vehicle body identification code collected in the facility related to toll collection and its related information or related information can be provided to the monitoring and enforcement agencies such as police as needed, various crimes can be reported. It can also contribute to prevention.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle-side communication facility used in the automatic toll collection system for a highway according to the present invention. In the present invention, the vehicle-side communication equipment is provided in the form of a license plate. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a license plate, which is slightly thicker than existing license plates. Although the appearance of the illustrated license plate 10 resembles an existing license plate, the appearance may be a completely new design.

The license plate 10 incorporates a communication device 12 inside a license plate exterior body 11 in a non-modifiable state. Reference numeral 13 in the figure is an antenna. Usually, a metal plate is used as the license plate exterior body 11, but a synthetic resin may be used. Alternatively, the front and side plates of the license plate exterior body 11 may be made of a metal plate, and only the back plate may be made of synthetic resin. When the synthetic resin is used for a part of the license plate exterior body 11 as described above, the externally exposed antenna 13 is unnecessary,
A mode in which a coil antenna is provided inside the license plate exterior body 11 can be adopted. The communication device 12 has an I
It is configured by arranging many C chips. A bare chip may be used to reduce the thickness of the license plate exterior body 11. Indicator lights 14 and 15 for displaying the operation state of the communication device 12 are provided on the front surface of the license plate exterior body 11.
Is provided. For example, the indicator light 14 may be blue, while the indicator light 15 may be red. Light bulbs, high-brightness LEDs, neon tubes, and the like can be used as the display lamps 14 and 15, but high-brightness LEDs are preferable from the viewpoint of durability and power saving. A display panel whose display content can be switched by a mechanical mechanism can be adopted instead of the display lamp. Further, the entire license plate exterior body 11 may emit light. The indicator lamps 14 and 15 may blink, and the number of indicator lamps may be one. Indicator lights 14, 1
5 is used, for example, to identify whether or not a car that has entered a highway is responding normally by receiving an interrogation signal issued from a toll collection facility. When the blue indicator light 14 is lit or blinking, it indicates that the vehicle normally responds to the interrogation signal from the fee collection facility, while when the red indicator light 15 is lit or blinks, it is a response. It is considered as not working or abnormally operating.

Such a license plate 10 is mounted on the front or rear of the automobile C as shown in FIG. It is preferable to provide it at the front part because it is close to the vehicle-mounted battery 40 serving as a power source and the indicator lights 14 and 15 can be confirmed from the front.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram showing a circuit example of the communication device 12. The communication device 12 in the illustrated example receives a vehicle body identification code storage unit 21, a transmission unit 22 that sends the vehicle body identification code on a wireless signal and sends it to a fee collection facility, and a wireless signal transmitted from the fee collection facility. The receiver 23,
Vehicle identification code storage unit 21, transmission unit 22, and reception unit 23
And a control unit 24 interposed between them. The vehicle identification code storage unit 21 stores an identification code unique to the vehicle, and usually uses a semiconductor ROM.
Of course, it is also possible to use storage means other than the semiconductor ROM. In this embodiment, radio waves are used as the communication medium, but infrared rays, light, and even ultrasonic waves can be used instead of radio waves. However, since infrared light and light have a strong directivity and are easily affected by shields, it is necessary to devise a method of transmitting a signal to a target toll collection facility as a target. Ultrasonic waves are not very desirable in view of the fact that various vibrations are acting on the highway and that the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from an automobile running at a high speed. Particularly preferred are radio waves, and microwaves are also preferred. With microwaves, it is possible to communicate with toll-related facilities within a range of several meters to several tens of meters. If the range of the radio wave is too wide, it will affect vehicles running on general roads other than highways.On the other hand, if the range of the radio wave is too narrow, communication will not be ensured without approaching toll collection facilities. Since it is impossible to do so and causes a communication error, the frequency of the radio wave and the magnitude of the output are determined in consideration of these.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram showing another circuit example of the communication device 12. In this circuit, no receiver is provided, and communication with the fee collection facility is performed only by the transmitter 22. In the case of this communication device 12, since the transmitting unit 22 cannot be automatically operated in response to an interrogation signal from the fee collection related facility, the driver manually issues a transmission start command when approaching the fee collection related facility. Communication device 1
2, a switch 25 is required. An example of a procedure for communicating with a fee collection related facility using the communication device 12 having such a configuration will be described later.

The communication device 12 is a license plate exterior 1
1 is incorporated with modification prohibition means. Although various types of modification prohibition means can be considered, for example, FIG.
6 and those shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the license plate exterior body 11 is composed of an inner case 11b and an outer case 11a, and a seal 2 is provided on the fitting portions of both cases.
6 is applied. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that sealing paper or the like is attached, but a more rigid sealing structure may be used.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the front and back surfaces of the circuit board of the communication device 12 are filled with a synthetic resin so that the circuit board is embedded in the synthetic resin body 27. In this case, it is preferable to select a synthetic resin having excellent electric insulation and a small dielectric constant. Incidentally, in order to avoid the fluctuation of the coil reactance, the portion where the coil is disposed may be excluded and filled with a synthetic resin.

FIG. 7 shows a case in which the vehicle body identification code is erased when an unauthorized alteration is attempted, as a modification prohibiting means. A memory content erasing mechanism 28 and a damage detecting mechanism 29 are provided in the communication device 12. ing. As the damage detection mechanism 29, various types can be adopted as long as they can detect that an operation that causes damage to the license plate exterior body 11 is actuated. For example, light that enters when a hole or the like is opened. It is possible to employ an optical sensor capable of detecting a pressure, a pressure sensor that reacts when a pressure force exceeding a specified value is applied, or the like. Examples of the optical sensor include a photodiode and a phototransistor, and examples of the pressure sensor include a piezoelectric element. Further, as the damage detection mechanism 29, other than these, a mechanical switch that operates when the license plate exterior body is opened may be used. When the vehicle body identification code storage unit 21 is an EPROM, an ultraviolet light emitter is used as the storage content erasing mechanism 28.
When 1 is an EEPROM, a voltage source capable of supplying an erase voltage can be exemplified.

The vehicle-mounted battery 30 is usually used as the power source for the communication device 12 as described above, but other power sources are also conceivable. For example, it is conceivable to use a solar battery backed up by a lithium rechargeable battery. In addition, a part of the received signal may be divided and rectified to obtain communication device driving power. By using the method of obtaining the driving power of the communication device by shunting and rectifying the received signal from the solar cell as described above, it is not necessary to lead the power supply line from the license plate 10 to the outside. And the prohibition of modification is more complete.

8 and 9 are further application examples of this system. Basically, this system distinguishes a vehicle body by transmitting a vehicle body identification code, specifies a designated account for automatic toll collection from the vehicle body identification code, and automatically deducts an expressway usage fee, as shown in FIG. It is a system with driver information added. For example, it is conceivable that an input device such as a card reader 31 for reading data from the ten-key pad 30 or the IC card 32 is installed in the vehicle and the driver identification code is input using these input devices. There are various ways of using this driver information. For example, if the consistency between the driver identification code and the vehicle identification code is verified and the consistency between the two codes is confirmed, the automatic payment of the expressway usage fee is approved. It is assumed that it is considered to have been done. This is effective for finding stolen vehicles, etc., and becomes more effective by connecting this system to the communication network of the monitoring and enforcement engine system as described later. Verification of both codes can be performed in the control unit 24 of the communication device 12 or can be performed by the toll collection related facility. Normally, the vehicle identification code and the driver identification code have a unique relationship, but this relationship is various in a company car, a rental car, and the like. In the case of a company car, driver identification codes of a plurality of employees are registered for one body identification code. In the case of a rental car, the driver identification code of the borrower is registered when the vehicle is rented. In the case of a rental car, the deduction of the expressway toll is automatically deducted from the designated account set in association with the driver identification code. The driver identification code can also be used as a virtual password. Also, the act of inputting the driver identification code is regarded as synonymous with approving the automatic debit of the expressway toll from the designated account, and can also provide a function of confirming the intention to pay the expressway toll.

FIG. 9 shows a case where the license plate 10 and the existing car navigation device 33 are linked. In this case, the radio signal sent from the toll collection facility carries various road information and information useful for the driver. Examples of the information include “Road construction is underway 2 km ahead” and “3 km to the next interchange Hiroshima”. In addition, when the present system is connected to a communication network of a monitoring and control agency as will be described later, search cooperation request information from the police or the like can be sent.

As an operation example of the present system having such a device configuration, the following pattern can be considered. First, the pattern shown in FIG. 10 is a case where a centralized management center that supervises each fee collection related facility is not required. The procedure in this case is described as follows in the order of the numbers shown in the figure. Note that a communication device that can adopt the procedure described here is a communication device having a receiving unit as described with reference to FIGS. First, an interrogation signal is constantly transmitted from the toll collection related facility 50 installed at or near the entrance gate of the expressway to the vehicle side communication equipment. This interrogation signal is set so as to reach a range of a radius R around the toll collection related facility 50 as shown in FIG.
If the range is exceeded, the frequency and power level are adjusted so that the reception section 23 of the vehicle-side communication equipment becomes weak and does not react. Specifically, the radius R can reliably transmit the interrogation signal only to the car C entering the expressway, and the interrogation signal can be transmitted only to vehicles traveling on general roads other than the expressway. This is the distance that cannot be reached. The arrival area of the interrogation signal may be set at the same distance in all directions around the toll collection related facility 50 as shown in the figure, but the direction of the transmission of the interrogation signal is given directivity to increase the fan-shaped arrival area. May be set. The content of the interrogation signal is such that the vehicle-side communication equipment is requested to return the vehicle body identification code. The vehicle-side communication equipment that has received the interrogation signal returns a wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code to the toll collection related facility 50. The toll collection facility 50 that has received the wireless signal including the vehicle identification code verifies the vehicle identification code extracted from the wireless signal, and if the validity is confirmed, the entrance interchange name, date, time, etc., in addition to the vehicle identification code. Is sent back to the vehicle-side communication equipment. The vehicle-side communication equipment transmits the returned intrusion permission data to the communication device 12.
And temporarily store it in a RAM or the like. At this time, for example, it is conceivable that the blue indicator light 14 is turned on to indicate to the outside that the vehicle-side communication facility has reliably received the intrusion permission data transmitted from the toll collection-related facility 50. The vehicle-side communication equipment passes through the entrance gate non-stop while retaining the intrusion permission data. This system basically aims to make the entrance gate unmanned. However, if a person is to be placed at the entrance gate, this person checks the blinking state of the indicator light 14 of the in-license body number plate. To do. In the case of complete unmanned operation, the license plate of the passing vehicle may be photographed by an automatic camera and the lighting state of the indicator lamp 14 may be recorded. The indicator lamp 14 may be kept lit while driving on the highway, but may be automatically turned off after a certain period of time. When the car C enters the forked road toward the expressway exit, an interrogation signal constantly transmitted by the toll collection related facility 51 on the exit side is received. The vehicle-side communication equipment that has received the interrogation signal returns the temporarily stored intrusion permission data. Normally, at this stage, the communication between the vehicle-side communication equipment and the toll collection facility 51 is completed. However, if necessary, the data of the estimated amount to be collected is returned to the vehicle-side communication equipment, and the acceptance signal is returned from the vehicle-side communication equipment. It is also possible to get it. In this case, it is considered to install a display panel that displays the expected collection amount in a conspicuous place at the exit gate, or to provide a price indicator in the vehicle. It is also conceivable to provide a confirmation switch or the like for confirming the driver's intention. The toll collection facility 51 that has received the intrusion permission data extracts information such as the vehicle body identification code, entrance interchange name, date, and time from the intrusion permission data, and calculates the highway use fee based on these information Is sent to a financial institution communication network, and the expressway use charge is automatically deducted from the designated account of the payment obligee registered in advance in association with the vehicle body identification code. The connection with the financial institution communication network is a wired connection, and a dedicated line or an ISDN line is used. The debit may be settled in units of one month in addition to real-time settlement. The usage statement that also serves as a receipt may be mailed at a later date. Expressway toll payments can be made by automatic debit from a designated bank or postal savings account, or by credit provided by a credit company. In addition, although some measures need to be taken, a so-called digital cash in which the balance is recorded on an IC card is used, and it is possible to take a form of actual cash payment by passing it through a card reader installed in the vehicle. 'Information including the vehicle identification code collected at the toll collection facility 51 may be provided to a communication network of a monitoring and control agency such as the police if necessary. A dedicated line or an ISDN line is used for the connection with the monitoring / controlling agency communication network, similarly to the connection with the financial institution communication network. These information can include an entry interchange name, an entry time, an exit interchange name, and an exit time, in addition to the vehicle identification code, so that it is possible to specify a vehicle and detect an average traveling speed on an expressway. Therefore, it is easy to detect a stolen vehicle or detect a speeding violation, and contribute to maintaining public order within a range that does not violate privacy. In the figure, the connection with the communication network of the monitoring and control agency is connected to the toll collection facility 5 at the exit.
However, it goes without saying that the communication network for the monitoring and control agency can also be connected to the toll collection facility 50 on the entrance side. The system described with reference to FIG. 10 is low in equipment cost because a centralized control center having a host computer is not required, but since a RAM for storing intrusion permission data is required in the vehicle-side communication equipment, the vehicle side requires a RAM. Communication equipment is slightly more expensive.

Next, an operation procedure in the case where a central management center having a host computer is provided will be described.
This procedure is shown in FIG. 12, and each step is as follows. An interrogation signal is always transmitted from the toll collection facility 50 on the entrance side to the vehicle side communication equipment. The vehicle-side communication equipment that has received the interrogation signal returns a wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code to the toll collection related facility 50. The fee collection-related facility 50 that has received the wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code extracts the vehicle body identification code from the signal,
The data is sent to a host computer installed in the central management center 54 through a dedicated line or an ISDN line. The host computer stores the transmitted data. When approaching the exit-related toll collection-related facility 51 and receiving the interrogation signal constantly transmitted by the toll collection-related facility 51, the vehicle-side communication facility receives the wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code and transmits the toll-related facility. Return to 51. The toll collection related facility 51 that has received the wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code sends this information to the central management center 54.
The central management center 54 uses the host computer to find the vehicle identification code sent from the entrance-side toll collection related facility 50 corresponding to the vehicle identification code sent from the exit-side toll collection related facility 51, and uses the expressway. Calculate the fee. 'Inform the financial institution of the amount of the expressway toll collected, and provide the vehicle identification code and its related information to police and other monitoring and enforcement agencies as necessary. In this system, since the vehicle-side communication equipment only transmits fixed data, there is an advantage that the device configuration can be simplified.

Finally, the case where the communication equipment on the automobile side, which does not have a receiver as shown in FIG. 4, is used will be described. In this system, there is no interrogation signal from the toll collection facility, and therefore, the transmission operation of the radio signal including the vehicle body identification code transmitted from the vehicle communication equipment to the toll collection facility depends on the manual operation of the driver. This procedure is shown in FIG. 13 and its contents are as follows. When the driver approaches the toll collection facility 50 on the entrance side, the driver presses the transmission switch to transmit a radio signal including the vehicle identification code to the toll collection facility 50. The fee collection-related facility 50 that has received the wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code extracts the vehicle body identification code from the signal,
It is sent to the central management center 54. When the driver approaches the toll collection facility 51 on the exit side, the driver presses the transmission switch to transmit a radio signal including the vehicle identification code to the toll collection facility 51. The toll collection related facility 51 that has received the wireless signal including the vehicle body identification code sends this information to the central management center 54.
The central management center 54 finds the vehicle identification code transmitted from the entrance-side toll collection-related facility 50 corresponding to the vehicle identification code transmitted from the exit-side toll collection-related facility 51, and calculates an expressway usage fee. . 'Inform the financial institution of the amount of the expressway toll collected, and provide the vehicle identification code and its related information to police and other monitoring and enforcement agencies as necessary.

[0035]

The automatic toll collection system of the present invention communicates between the toll collection facility on the highway and the communication equipment on the automobile side, and the designated account of the user is based on the specified vehicle body identification code. Since the expressway use charge is automatically deducted from the vehicle, it becomes possible to pass through the entrance gate and the exit gate nonstop, and it is possible to eliminate traffic congestion on the expressway. Further, as the automobile-side communication equipment, a wireless communication device having a vehicle body identification code storage unit and a mechanism for transmitting the vehicle body identification code is incorporated into a license plate with a modification prohibiting means. In addition to the effects, the following effects are achieved. First of all, the communication equipment on the automobile side is incorporated into the license plate in a non-modifiable manner, so it is impossible to modify it. Also,
License plate issuance control is performed under the supervision of the Land Transport Bureau, so that the vehicle body identification code can be centrally managed by the administrative body. And the license plate issued has received official approval, and its reliability will be extremely high. In addition, license plates are often already installed at the time of purchase of the vehicle body by a distributor's proxy application, so highway users can automatically install this system at the same time as purchasing the vehicle body without performing special installation procedures. it can.

As described in claim 2, a storage content erasing mechanism for erasing the storage content of the vehicle body identification code storage portion is provided in the wireless communication device in the license plate, while the damage detection mechanism for the license plate exterior body or the license plate exterior is provided. If a body opening detection mechanism is provided and the detection signal output by the damage detection mechanism or the opening detection mechanism is used as the operation signal of the recorded content erasing mechanism as the modification prohibiting means, the license plate will be illegally modified. In this case, the vehicle body identification code is erased, and unauthorized modification of the license plate is completely prevented.

When an indicator lamp for indicating the operating state of the wireless communication device incorporated in the license plate is provided on the surface of the license plate as described in claim 3, the indicator lamp indicates that the vehicle side communication equipment operates normally. It can also be used as an index indicating that the vehicle is communicating, or as an indicator that the communication between the vehicle and the toll collection facility has been completed normally, so it is possible to identify a vehicle that refuses to pay the expressway usage fee and breaks through the gate. Can be grasped.

When the wireless communication device in the license plate is equipped with a receiving unit as described in claim 4, the vehicle communication device automatically operates in response to the call signal from the fee collection facility. As a result, it is possible to build a non-touch, fully automated fee automatic collection system.

When the wireless communication device in the license plate which does not have the receiving portion is used as described in claim 5, the cost of the wireless communication device in the license plate can be reduced.

When the power source power generation unit for obtaining the power for driving the wireless communication device in the license plate from the received signal is provided in the license plate as described in claim 7, the wireless communication device in the license plate is externally supplied. No power supply is required, and the license plate can be handled as a self-contained, completely independent body, so that the hermeticity can be further improved.

When the wireless communication device in the license plate and the existing car navigation device are linked with each other as described in claim 8, the road information and the like should be included in the information sent from the fee collection facility to the vehicle side communication facility. By keeping
It can contribute to safe driving and provide useful information to the driver.

When the input device for managing the driver information is installed in the vehicle as described in claim 9, the entered driver information and the vehicle body identification data are compared and collated, and the consistency is verified to verify the consistency. When confirming the intention to pay the usage fee, or when the driver constantly changes, such as in a rental car, the driver information can be prioritized over the vehicle body identification code to specify the payment account.

If the related information including the vehicle body identification code collected in the fee collection related facility or the related information can be provided to the surveillance / control agency such as the police as required, various crimes can be prevented. It can also contribute to prevention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a license plate used in an automatic toll collection system for a highway according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a mounting position of the license plate to a vehicle body.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram showing an example of a communication device incorporated in a license plate.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram showing another example of a communication device incorporated in a license plate.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the license plate and the modification prohibition means.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing another example of the internal structure of the license plate and the modification prohibiting means.

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram showing another example of a communication device incorporated in a license plate.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a driver information input device is externally connected to a license plate communication device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an example in which an existing car navigation device is externally connected to the communication device in the license plate.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation procedure of the present system.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a range in which an interrogation signal transmitted from a toll collection-related facility reaches.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the operation procedure of the present system.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the operation procedure of the present system.

[Explanation of symbols]

C automobile 10 license plate 11 license plate outer body 11a outer case 11b inner case 12 communication device 13 antenna 14 indicator light 15 indicator light 21 vehicle body identification code storage unit 22 transmitter unit 23 receiver unit 24 control unit 25 switch 26 seal 27 synthetic resin body 28 Memory content erasing mechanism 29 Damage detection mechanism 30 Numeric keypad 31 Card reader 32 IC card 33 Car navigation device 40 In-vehicle battery 50 Fee collection related facility 51 Fee collection related facility 52 Financial institution communication network 53 Monitoring /
Control agency communication network 54 Central control center

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A system for automatically collecting a toll of a highway from a highway user by performing data communication between a toll-related facility of the highway and a vehicle via a wireless signal, wherein a body identification code storage unit is provided. An automatic toll collection system for highways, characterized in that a wireless communication device having a mechanism for transmitting this vehicle body identification code is incorporated into a license plate along with modification prohibition means, and this is used as communication equipment on the automobile side. 2. A storage content erasing mechanism for erasing the storage content of the vehicle body identification code storage unit is provided in the wireless communication device in the license plate, while a damage detection mechanism for the license plate exterior body or a license plate exterior body open detection mechanism. 2. The automatic highway toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein said modification prohibition means is provided by using a detection signal output from said damage detection mechanism or an open detection mechanism as an operation signal of said recorded content erasing mechanism. 3. The automatic highway toll collection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an indicator light indicating the operating state of the wireless communication device incorporated in the license plate is provided on the surface of the license plate. 4. A wireless communication device incorporated in a license plate includes at least a vehicle body identification code storage unit, a transmission unit for transmitting the vehicle body identification code on a wireless signal to a fee collection related facility, and a fee collection related facility. The receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a receiving unit that receives the transmitted wireless signal; and a control unit that is interposed between the vehicle body identification code storage unit and the transmitting unit and the receiving unit. Highway toll collection system. 5. A wireless communication device incorporated in a license plate, at least a vehicle body identification code storage unit, a transmission unit for transmitting the vehicle body identification code on a wireless signal to a fee collection related facility, a storage unit and a transmission unit. The automatic toll collection system for a highway according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a control unit interposed between and. 6. The automatic highway toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication medium is any one of radio waves, infrared rays, light and ultrasonic waves. 7. The automatic highway toll collection according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a power source power generation unit for obtaining the power for driving the wireless communication device in the license plate from the received signal is provided in the license plate. system. 8. The automatic highway toll collection system according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device in the license plate and the existing car navigation device are linked. 9. An input device for managing driver information is installed in a vehicle, and a function for comparing and collating driver information with vehicle body identification data is added in a control unit of a wireless communication device provided in a license plate. Items 1-8
The automatic highway toll collection system according to any one of 1 above. 10. The expressway toll according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is provided with a communication network connecting the toll collection-related facility to the financial institution communication network and the surveillance / control agency communication network. Automatic collection system.