MY120357A - Method for automatic debiting of tolls for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DEBITING OF TOLLS FOR VEHICLES (V1-V4) ON TRAFFIC ROUTES OR IN TRAFFIC ZONES, WHERE THE RESPECTIVE VEHICLES (V1-V4) ARE EQUIPPED WITH COMMUNICATION DEVICES (1,11) FOR COMMUNICATION (12) WITH A CENTRAL UNIT (C) AND FOR COMMUNICATION (2) WITH A ROADSIDE UNIT (3) AT A PHYSICAL TOLL STATION (4). AT LEAST ONE VIRTUAL TOLL CHARGING STATION (7) IS GEOGRAPHICALLY PREDETERMINED IN RELATION TO THE PHYSICAL STATION (4). ACCORDING TO THE METHOD THE VEHICLE'S COMMUNICATION DEVICE COMPRISES A RECEIVER (11) FOR A GNSS SYSTEM, WHICH SUPPLIES SIGNALS, FROM WHICH A FIRST PROCESSOR (5) READS THE POSITION OF THE VEHICLE (V1-V4) AND DETECTS THE ENTRY OF THE VEHICLE INTO A VIRTUAL TOLL CHARGING STATION (7) BY COMPARING THE READ VEHICLE POSITION WITH THE POSITIONS OF THE VIRTUAL TOLL CHARGING STATIONS, DATA ON WHICH ARE STORED IN THE VEHICLE'S MEMORY (6). THE VEHICLE'S COMMUNICATION DEVICE (11) THEN ANNOUNCES, VIA A DIGITAL MOBILE TRANSMITTING NETWORK TO THE CENTRAL UNIT (C), THAT A TOLL DEBITING TRANSACTION IS TO BE EXECUTED. THE CENTRAL UNIT (C) CARRIES OUT THE TOLL DEBITING TRANSACTION FOR THE VEHICLE (V1-V4) AND RETURNS A RECEIPT OF THE TRANSACTION TO THE VEHICLE BY ITS COMMUNICATION DEVICE (1, 11). ON ENTRY TO THE PHYSICAL TOLL STATION (4) THE VEHICLE'S COMMUNICATION DEVICE (1) SENDS, VIA A COMMUNICATION LINK (2) TO THE ROADSIDE UNIT (3), THE RECEIPT AS EVIDENCE THAT THE CORRECT TOLL HAS BEEN PAYED. (FIGURE 1)