RU2785196C1 - Tracking system for tracking vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tracking systems.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a tracking system for tracking vehicles, such as cars, buses or yachts, comprising optical readers that are configured to read machine-readable codes that are affixed to vehicles, in particular on vehicle license plates. The invention further relates to a method for tracking vehicles, as well as a license plate for use in the method for the invention.

EFFECT: improvement tracking system for tracking vehicles.

5 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a tracking system for tracking vehicles such as cars, buses or yachts.

The use of such a system would enable the tracking of vehicles of all kinds, especially cars, buses or yachts, and also enable indirect tracking of people inside such vehicles and enable tracking of their routes. Technical equipment will thus be used to capture the position of such vehicles. In particular, it is possible to determine the time of entry into or exit from cities or countries of such vehicles, or the time spent driving on motorways, other roads or waterways.

Tracking systems known in the prior art are, however, relatively cumbersome and slow. The aim of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simple and fast way to capture and track vehicles of all kinds.

The invention thus provides a tracking system for tracking vehicles, such as cars, buses or yachts, comprising optical readers that are capable of reading machine-readable codes printed on vehicles, in particular vehicle license plates. The tracking system thus comprises at least one optical reader and a machine readable code attached to the vehicle.

The present invention enables the application of machine-readable codes, for example, on license plates, for fast reading at distances up to 21 meters anywhere, using optical readers, in particular, standard scanners for reading (bar) code or scanners for reading (bar) code long range for quick checks in traffic or water. The flow of traffic will thus not be interrupted, and cars with false or stolen license plates can be stopped quickly and easily.

If the machine readable code(s) is (are) located on one or more license plates, the system according to the invention also contains license plates.

Machine readable codes, especially barcodes, will in the preferred embodiment of the invention be applied to vehicle license plates. Coding vehicles is prior art and relatively inexpensive. Such codes may alternatively also be attached to vehicles in other ways, in particular to license plates. The codes or encoded data will in the preferred version of the invention be stored in an electronic database and will preferably contain a uniquely assigned vehicle number, in particular the official vehicle identification code.

To prevent or make counterfeiting of codes more difficult, the machine-readable code data is preferably encrypted.

Machine-readable codes, in particular barcodes, 2D codes (for example, data matrix or QR codes) or 3D codes can be read automatically using scanners, while the machine-readable code will represent data (information) through the location and length of lines or fields and intervals.

Barcodes and 2D codes are usually read using special scanners and devices with translation software that converts such information into human-readable characters, such as letters or numbers. Appropriate applications on mobile phones or other portable electronic devices may alternatively also be used to read such codes.

In particular, linear barcodes are widely available as application software for businesses and controllers, with the ability for workers to check work orders, track their hours of work, and inspect specific merchandise.

Code scanners are able to read codes better and faster than humans in many places such as warehouses, supermarkets and hotels. These code readers can be connected to a computer either via a cable or preferably wirelessly, such as via Bluetooth, for further processing of the scanner data. Wireless scanners are particularly advantageous if the distance to the user is long and/or in an obstruction environment.

Standard barcode scanners are designed to read barcodes at the scanner and are used, for example, in retail, healthcare and office environments to check and manage inventory. Long-range scanners (with a range of up to 21 meters), on the other hand, are especially useful in places where codes are difficult to access, such as warehouses, courtyards or manufacturing plants. Long-range code scanners, for example, will allow personnel to scan codes attached to goods on a high shelf or goods on a forklift loading platform without having to position the scanner close to such codes. According to the invention, the use of a long-range scanner makes it possible to read the code from a greater distance, for example, by means of scanners located on the side of the road.

The long range feature does not mean that such code scanners will not be as effective at close range. Devices operating as efficiently as possible at distances from a few centimeters to 21 meters (approximately 70 feet) are preferred in this case.

According to the invention, in particular, license plates of motor vehicles and vehicles with machine-readable codes, in particular bar codes, are provided. This includes license plates with a barcode that can be read by standard code scanners or long range code scanners anywhere, even at distances up to 21 meters. This enables fast, reliable and simple recognition of vehicles by means of their machine-readable code and checks of their information. This will make falsification and misuse of license plates much more difficult, especially if the license plates are uniquely assigned to a vehicle.

The present invention is particularly advantageous because conventional (bar)code scanners or long range (bar)code scanners will allow cars and other vehicles to be quickly tracked and inspected without disturbing traffic because the vehicles do not need to be stopped for tracking.

On the one hand, the system according to the invention can be used to check and control vehicles and to identify them, in particular their legality.

On the other hand, when using standard (bar)code scanners or long-range (bar)code scanners and related computers, the system according to the invention also, together with systems for electronic toll collection, provides the possibility of automatically monitoring and tracking vehicles entering, for example, in town. The recorded vehicle movement data can then be used to determine and make payments through traditional payment systems. The use of stationary scanners for reading the code, located, for example, at the entrances to cities, would be preferable in this case. The invention further enables faster and more efficient collection of parking tickets if the parking authority is equipped with mobile code reader scanners to easily scan the vehicle code to issue a parking ticket if necessary.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, scanning the code results in an instant payment, in particular in the case of fines or parking fines. The vehicle identification codes can, for example, be linked to the current account of the vehicle owner using a central database. The code will be read by a scanner and advantageously transmitted to the control unit along with information such as the relevant time and place of the event. There, fines will be calculated based on the scanned code and deducted from, for example, a current account. The system may also include sending proof of payment to the mobile phone (or other electronic device) of the vehicle owner. The owner of the car will thus receive an instant confirmation of the payment. Confirmation can, for example, be carried out by e-mail or text message.

In addition, rescue teams or family members in the event of an emergency involving a vehicle with a code will be able to locate the owner of the vehicle based on the vehicle's most recently read machine-readable code. This will help determine the approximate location of the vehicle if an emergency occurs. In this case, preferably, data such as the time and location of the detection of the scanner is stored in an electronic database. Preferably, the electronic database then contains all code entries, whereby a vehicle movement profile can be created. Each individual scanner can be connected to a computer that stores an electronic database, either using a cable or wirelessly. The data is preferably transferred to an electronic database automatically after the scanning process.

The system should in the preferred embodiment of the invention comprise the following components: a main computer, an identification plate with a machine-readable code, an optical reader, in particular a standard code scanner or a long-range code scanner, a payment system for toll payments, a terminal for bank payments, an office scanner, a mobile phone linked to a receiver, a mobile modem for transferring data sets and a control unit. These components will enable the electronic registration of toll road payments and thereby provide electronic tracking and processing of roads entering and exiting the city. The codes can be registered on the main computer and linked, for example, to the driver's license of the vehicle owner. Identification codes will be read by the scanner during operation and sent to the payment system of the toll road. Confirmation of payments can be sent to the mobile phone of the vehicle owner.

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the invention would include a data set with at least the telephone number of the responsible police station and proof of payments.

The system should, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, be configured to regularly transmit its data set via the control unit.

Further preferably, at least one optical reader is in the form of a stationary reader, and preferably at least one optical reader is in the form of a mobile, preferably portable, reader.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, more than one computer readable code, for example two or three computer readable codes, are located on the vehicle. In addition, there are preferably two different codes, such as a barcode and a 2D code, which preferably have substantially the same data (the same information) as a specific unique vehicle identifier. It also creates a redundant system in which only one of the several codes needs to be able to be read while the others can be dirty or corrupted. In addition, tamper protection is improved, since two codes must be tampered with at the same time.

Preferably, several, eg two or three, machine-readable codes are located on the license plate at different locations on the license plate.

The invention also provides a method for tracking vehicles such as cars, buses or yachts, wherein optical readers read machine readable codes attached to vehicles, in particular vehicle license plates.

According to the invention, an additional license plate is provided that contains at least one machine-readable code.

In this case, it is preferably provided that the license plate has at least two machine-readable codes, which are preferably different from each other.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of drawings showing schematically an embodiment of the invention. In these drawings in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows the components of a system according to the invention, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shows exemplary block diagrams of a system in accordance with the invention, and FIG. 5 shows license plates according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 shows examples of different license plates 1 with a machine-readable code 2, such as a barcode. The barcode should preferably be applied to license plates. Also shown is an optical reader 3 deployed in the structure of the invention, a mobile phone with a scanning application, and a server 4 for communicating with the mobile phone.

In FIG. 2 shows more components of the tracking system. The system comprises a main computer 5, a vehicle license plate with a machine-readable code 2, an optical reader implemented in the form of a standard scanner 3 for reading a barcode or a scanner 3 for reading a long-range barcode, a toll road payment system 6, a terminal 7 for bank payments, an office a scanner 8, a mobile phone 9, a mobile modem 10 for transmitting a data set and a control unit 11. Connecting lines 12, 13 and 14 are also shown. These components will enable the electronic registration of toll road payments, thus enabling electronic tracking and processing of entries into and exits from cities. The invention specifically provides for the transmission of the vehicle code to the official driver's license registry and fine payment system.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shows the general scheme of the control unit 11 (FIG. 2).

It contains the opening and closing, including the data in blocks from block 1 to block 6 (Q1-Q6).

Block 1: The mobile modem line is opened for transmission of information.

Block 2: The data message is transmitted as confirmation of receipt of payment for the toll road, including the place, time and date, vehicle number and code, as indicated in the certificate. The information is processed through a fine payment system.

Block 3: The mobile modem is functioning normally.

Block 4: Information for the driver, including the fine and the traffic police phone number for the motorway section, is sent to the mobile phone.

Block 5: Transmission

Block 6: Mobile modem connection closed.

The functions are summarized in the table below.

Q1 Open mobile modem connection within 1 second - 1.50 seconds

Q2 Data message and fine payment process image

3 seconds - 1.50 seconds

Q3 Mobile modem is functioning normally

4 seconds - 1.50 seconds

Q4 Driver information, fine and traffic police phone number for the motorway section are sent to the mobile phone.

5 seconds - 1.50 seconds

Q5 Normal operation

7 seconds - 1.50 seconds

Q6 Mobile modem closes.

9 seconds - 1.50 seconds

In FIG. Figure 5 above shows license plate 1 with machine readable code 2 as a barcode, while the bottom shows license plate 1 with barcode 2 and an additional 2D code 2.

Claims (11)

1. Monitoring system for tracking vehicles such as cars, buses or yachts, in which the monitoring system includes optical readers designed to detect machine-readable codes (2), the marking system includes a vehicle number plate with at least two machine-readable codes ( 2), and the processing system is designed for code recognition and comparison with databases, characterized in that the machine-readable codes (2) are printed on the number plate (1) and the machine-readable codes (2) are located in different places of the number plate (1) and differ from one another at least as between machine-readable n-codes, as codes, or as between a two-dimensional matrix code and/or a barcode and a QR code, and as between a two-dimensional matrix code and a QR code, and can be read using optical sensors to optical n-readers and verified using a machine-readable code (2) and stored in the electronic database of the system monitoring topics and each has a unique number assigned to the vehicle readers, designed as standard scanners and long range code scanners, with long range code scanners having a reading range of up to 21 meters so that the machine readable code (2) can be read from a distance of up to 21 meters . 2. The monitoring system according to claim. 1, characterized in that the data of machine-readable codes (2) is encrypted. 3. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic base stores data on the time and place of detection using an optical reader (3). 4. Monitoring system according to paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that at least one optical reader (3) is made in the form of a stationary reader and at least one optical reader (3) is made in the form of a mobile reader. 5. A method for monitoring vehicles using a monitoring system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, including: - providing vehicles with license plates that have at least two different machine-readable codes or QR codes; - providing monitoring systems with at least one long-range code scanner with a range of up to 21 meters; - optical reading of two codes by the indicated long-range code scanners from a long distance up to 21 meters; - identification of each code; - checking codes; as well as - providing information about the location of the vehicle and the conditions of its movement.

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