Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
X194826
TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM CAPABLE OF
PROPERLY COLLECTING ,A TOLL FROM A USER WITHOUT REQUIRING
ANY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO BE MOUNTED IN A VEHICLE
Background of the Invention:
This invention relates to a toll collection
system for a toll road, a parking space, or the like and,
in particular, t.o a toll collection system for
automatically collecting a toll from a user of a toll
road by the use of radio signals transmitted between a
tollgate and an automotive vehicle passing through the
tollgate.
Traditionally, a road toll for a toll road such
as an expressway is manually collected by temporarily
stopping an automotive vehicle at a tollgate. In order
to reduce time and labor of a user and a toll collector,
proposal has been made of automatic toll collection
systems each of 'which transmits and receives radio waves
between data tra:nsmission/reception units equipped in
both the tollgate and the automotive vehicle to acquire
vehicle passage data, prepares toll charge data from the
vehicle passage data, and automatically charges the road
toll based on the toll charge data.
For example, o:ne such system is disclosed in
Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication (A) No.
2194826
2
242098/1993 which is called herein a first conventional
toll collection system. In the first conventional toll
collection system, an on-vehicle unit for toll collection
is mounted in each automotive vehicle while each tollgate
is equipped with an optical communication unit and a data
terminal unit cannect~ed to a host computer. When the
automotive vehicle approaches an entrance booth of one
tollgate as an Entrance tollgate, a tollgate number
assigned to the entrance tollgate is transmitted from the
data terminal unit through the optical communication unit
in the entrance booth to the on-vehicle unit to be
written in a memory oi° the on-vehicle unit as entrance
place data. Then, the on-vehicle unit transmits to the
optical communication unit registration number data,
including vehicle typs~ data, preliminarily registered.
The registration number data and the entrance place data
are delivered from the optical communication unit to the.
host computer through the data terminal unit.
On the other hand, when the automotive vehicle
approaches an exit booth of the other tollgate as an exit
tollgate, the entrance place data and the registration
number data stored in the memory of the on-vehicle unit
are transmitted from the on-vehicle unit to the data
terminal unit through the optical communication unit in
the exit booth. The data terminal unit transmits to the
host computer exit place data representative of a
tollgate number .of the exit tollgate together with the
registration number data and the entrance place data
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3
supplied from the on-vehicle unit. In response to those
data, the host computer issues a toll payment order.
According to the above-mentioned first toll
collection system, it is possible to collect the road
toll, such as an expressway toll, with reduced load both
on the user and the toll collector and without stopping
the automotive vehicle at the tollgate.
Another toll collection system is disclosed in
Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication (A) No.
120504/1993 which is <:alled herein a second conventional
toll collection systenn. In the second conventional toll
collection system, each automotive vehicle has a portable
responder for transmission and reception of toll
collection data when the automotive vehicle passes an
entrance part and an exit part of an expressway. When a
credit card is inserted into the portable responder, the
portable responder is enabled to transmit an ID
(identification) code of the credit card, to store
reception data in a memory as stored data, and to
transmit the stored data.
When the automotive vehicle passes the entrance
part, an entrance on-road unit receives the ID code
transmitted from the portable responder and in turn
transmits the ID code together with an input time of the
ID code and an entrance tollgate name to a central unit.
Simultaneously, the input time and the entrance tollgate
name are also sent to the portable responder to be stored
in the memory of the portable responder as the above-
2194826
4
mentioned stored data. In the exit part, an exit on-road
unit receives the stored data from the portable
responder. The exit on-road unit then calculates the
road toll and transmits required data, such as the road
toll, an exit tollgates name, and a passage time, to the
portable responder an<i the central unit.
In addition, each tollbooth is equipped with a
signal unit and a came ra to monitor illegal passage of
any automotive vehicles .
The second conventional toll collection system is
excellent in safety and reliability and enables smooth
and efficient toll collection with a very small number of
toll collectors.
Still another toll collection system is disclosed
in Japanese Unexamined. Patent Prepublication (A) No.
108916/1993 which is called herein a third conventional
toll collection system. In the third conventional toll
collection system, on each automotive vehicle is mounted
an on-vehicle ID signal processing device for toll
collection which includes an on-vehicle antenna, a place
ID memory, and a vehicle ID signal generator. An entry
ID signal processing device is installed at each entry
gate of the tollgate for expressway while an exit ID
signal processin<1 device is installed at each exit gate
of tollgate for expressway.
In the entry grate, the on-vehicle ID signal
processing devicE~ receives via the on-vehicle antenna an
entry ID signal j.or the tollgate for expressway and
2194826
temporarily stores 1.n the place ID memory the entry ID
signal indicating where the automotive vehicle enters in
the expressway. In the exit gate, the on-vehicle ID
signal processing device sends an vehicle ID signal and
the entry ID signal via the on-vehicle antenna from the
vehicle ID signal generator and the place ID memory,
respectively. 7~he exat ID signal processing device
receives and recognizes the these ID signals. Thus, an
expressway rate is aui~omatically calculated and processed
by a rate computing dEwice using information of the exit
gate of the tollgate i°or expressway and the above-
mentioned ID sigrnals.
However, the conventional toll collection systems
described above are dj_sadvantageous in the following
respects.
Each of the first and the third conventional toll
collection system is based on the presumption that the on-
vehicle unit or the on-vehicle ID signal processing
device preliminarily stores a correct registration or ID
number assigned to the automotive vehicle. Collection of
the toll is addressed to the vehicle registration or ID
number stored in the on-vehicle unit or the on-vehicle ID
signal processing device and the user himself is not
specified at all. It is therefore difficult to quickly
and accurately collect the toll. In addition, the cost
of the automotive vehicle is inevitably increased by the
equipment of the on-vehicle unit or the on-vehicle ID
signal processing device. Smooth and non-stop passage
2 ! X4826
6
through the booth and reliable toll collection are
expected provided that all automotive vehicles are
obliged to mount/ the ~on-vehicle units or the on-vehicle
ID signal proce:sing devices and actually equipped with
the on-vehicle units or the on-vehicle ID signal
processing devices. l3owever, it is impossible to prevent
occurrence of failure in the on-vehicle units or the on-
vehicle ID signal processing devices, presence of
unequipped automotive vehicles during a transient period,
and illegal pas~;age a!° those automotive vehicles from
which the on-vehicle units or the on-vehicle ID signal
processing devices are intentionally removed.
On the other hand, the second conventional toll
collection system makes use of the ID code registered in
the credit card carried by an individual. Accordingly,
the user can be specified as a payer of the toll.
However, the second conventional toll system is expensive
because such special-purpose portable responder must be
purchased in order to use the toll raad. In addition,
since a plurality of portable responders transmit and
receive the radio waves in a very close range at the
tollgate, it is difficult to discriminate among the
portable responders, namely, the radio waves.
Furthermore, it is impossible to identify the vehicle
type of the automotive vehicle passing the tollgate.
Thus, the second conventional toll collection system is
practically disadvantageous.
2E94a26
Summary of the Invention:
It is an object of this invention to provide a
toll collection system which is capable of properly
charging a user of a toll road for a toll without
requiring any special terminal unit to be equipped in a
user's vehicle.
A toll collection system for a toll road to which
this invention .Ls applicable transmits and receives radio
waves between a tollgate and a data
transmission/rec:eption unit of an automotive vehicle
passing the tol7_gate 1;.o collect vehicle passage data, and
prepares toll charge data from the vehicle passage data
to automatically collEact a road toll. According to an
aspect of this i.nventj'.on, the data transmission/reception
unit is a mobile termj.nal for mobile communication.
The mobile terminal may be adapted to transmit a
radio signal carrying a terminal number assigned thereto
and a predetermined dial number for a passage permission
request. The tollgates may comprise a toll lane through
which the automotive vehicle goes and an antenna over the
toll lane which receives the radio signal transmitted
from the mobile terminal. The tollgate further may
comprises a processing unit for acquiring terminal
information for identifying a user of the mobile terminal
by accessing a mobile communication exchange system using
the terminal number. The processing unit includes a data
memory unit for ;storing passage vehicle information
containing a passage time and the terminal information.
2194826
8
The toll collection system further may comprise a central
processing computer for obtaining from the processing
unit the passage vehicle information together with
tollgate information .at least containing a tollgate
identification code to prepare the toll charge data. The
above-mentioned system utilizes the mobile terminal
widely used in an ord:Lnary telephone system. It is
therefore unnecs~ssary to provide the automotive vehicle
with any special. equipment in order to use the toll road.
Thus, extra cost. is saved.
Brief De~script.ion of the Drawing:
Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram for
describing a toll collection system according to a first
embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a flow chart for describing the
operation of the system illustrated in Fig. 1 in
preparation of passage car data;
Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram for
describing a toll collection system according to a second
embodiment of this invention; and
Fig. 4 1;s a flow chart for describing the
operation of the system illustrated in Fig. 3 in
preparation of toll charge data.
Descript:Lon of the Preferred Embodiments:
Now, description will be made as regards an
embodiment of this invention with reference to the
drawing.
?194826
9
As well known in the art, toll collection systems
for toll roads ,ire classified into two types. A first
type of the tol:L collection system is a uniform rate
system where a toll is uniform independent of an interval
of traveling and is determined on the basis of a
vehicle's class alone. The vehicle's class defines a
class of automoi~ive vehicles. A second type of the toll
collection systE~m is a variable rate system where a toll
is variable in dependence of the interval of traveling.
In the variable rate system, tollgates are divided into
two types, namely, entrance tollgates and exit tollgates.
The uniform rated systEam will be at first described. The
variable rate system will later be described.
Referring to Fig. 1, a toll collection system
according to a first embodiment of this invention is for
collecting a toll from a user of an automotive vehicle 11
passing a tollgate on a toll road. The automotive
vehicle 11 may be a light car, a minicar or a small-sized
car, an ordinary clasec of car or an ordinary-sized car, a
large-sized vehicle such as a bus, a truck or the like,
an extra-large vehicle, and so on.
The toll collection system includes a plurality
of toll lanes 12 (only one toll lane is illustrated), a
terminal information receiving unit 13, a data memory
unit 14, a central processing computer 15, and an
interface circuit 16 connected to a mobile communication
exchange system 30. fhe mobile communication exchange
system 30 is connected. to a communication network (not
~~ 9~~2~
shown). When t'.he automotive vehicle 11 passes through
one of the toll lanes 12, the user of the automotive
vehicle 11 has a mobile terminal 20 for mobile
communication. The mobile terminal 20 may be a mobile
telephone set, a portable telephone set, a personal
handyhone, or the like. The data memory unit 14, the
terminal information :receiving unit 13, and the interface
circuit 16 are included in a processing unit 17.
The toll col.leaction system according to this
invention is different:. from the conventional toll
collection systems de:~cribed in the preamble of the
specification in the following respect. In this system,
the mobile terminal 2(1 connected to the mobile
communication exchange system 30 by means of radio waves
serves to make a passage permission request when the
automotive vehicle 11 passes the tollgate.
Each toll lanes 12 extends straight and bears an
indication of a particular dial number for use in making
the passage permission request. The toll lane 12 is
equipped with an antenna 121 for transmitting and
receiving radio waves or radio signals to and from the
mobile terminal 20,a vehicle's class detector 122 for
detecting the vehicle's class, a signal unit 123, and a
camera 124. The antenna 121 is located on a center line
of each toll lane 12 extending straight.
In order to make the passage permission request,
the user make the mobile terminal 20 off-hook. Thereby,
the mobile terminal 20 transmits the radio signal
219426
11
carrying a term_tnal number assigned thereto. Thereafter,
the user operatE~s the mobile terminal 20 to dial the
above-mentioned particular dial number preliminarily
determined for :celectlon of a toll collection system
route. When the mobi7Le terminal 20 originates a call by
dialing the particular dial number, the mobile communi-
cation exchange system 30 is activated to start the
operation of the toll collection system. Specifically,
the particular dial number serves to establish a
connection route between the mobile communication
exchange system 30 and the terminal information receiving
unit 13 of each tollgate. On the other hand, when any
ordinary dial number is dialed, the mobile communication
exchange system 30 is activated to start ordinary radio
communication.
For example, the selection of the toll collection
system route is represented by at least a first numerical
character contained in the particular dial number. In
this event, the ;mobile communication exchange system 30
judges from the first numerical character that the call
is to be connected not to the communication network but
to the toll collection system.
The antenna 121 serves to receive as a reception
radio signal the above-mentioned call transmitted from
the mobile terminal 20 and to supply the mobile
communication exchange system 30 with a channel
establishment request and the particular dial number via
the interface circuit 16. On the other hand, the antenna
12 2I 94826
121 serves to transmit a transmission radio signal from
the mobile communication exchange system 30. As will
later be described, an entry lane which the automotive
vehicle 11 is entering is detected with reference to a
difference between signal levels of the same reception
radio signal received at the toll lanes 12 adjacent to
one another. In order to facilitate such detection, the
antenna 121 is located on a center line of each toll lane
12 as mentioned before'. Preferably, each antenna 12 is
directional antenna which faces the toll lane 12 in
question.
The vehicle's class detector 122 detects the
vehicle's class of they automotive vehicle 11 passing the
tollgate and supplies vehicle's class information
indicative of the vehicle's class to the data memory unit
14. It is noted here that the vehicle's class is
required in charging the toll for the toll road.
The vehicle's class detector 122 may be a number
plate reader for reading a registration number on a
number plate of the automotive vehicle 11 passing the
tollgate and supplies, as the vehicle's class
information, the registration number to the data memory
unit 14. In the present status, however, the toll in
relation to the vehicle's class is not always determined
by the registration number alone. In view of the above,
the vehicle's class for determination of the toll is
preliminarily stored i:n a memory (not shown) of the
central processing computer 15 in relation to the
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13
registration number.
The signal unit 123 has a function of detecting
the passage of i~he automotive vehicle 11 to produce a
passage detection signal on detection of the passage of
the automotive ~rehicl~s 11. That is, the signal unit 123
serves as a pas~~age detection unit. When all required
information of the car 11 passing the tollgate is
properly obtained, them signal unit 123 turns on a green
light as a go signal in response to a passage permission
signal from the processing unit 17. Simultaneously, the
signal unit 123 notifies the camera 124 of the go signal
and allows the p~assagE~ of the automotive vehicle 11. At
any rate, the signal unit 123 acts as a passage
permission announcing unit for announcing passage
permission to the user of the mobile terminal 20 in
response to the passage permission signal. After the
passage of the automat.ive vehicle 11, the signal unit 123
turns on a red light a.s a stop signal. The signal unit
123 notifies the data memory unit 14 of the fact that the
camera 124 performs a photographing aperation during the
stop signal as will be described below.
The camera 124 is operatively coupled with the
signal unit 123. When the signal unit 123 indicates the
go signal, the camera 124 performs no photographing
operation. On t:he other hand, in presence of an illegal
passage of the automotive vehicle 11 during the stop
signal, the camera 124 is informed of the occurrence of
the illegal passage fram the signal unit 123. In this
2194826
14
event, the camera 124 photographs a front side of the
automotive vehicle 11 to identify a driver and informs
the signal unit 123 o:f execution of the photographing
operation. At any rate, the camera 124 is operable as a
picking unit fo~_- picking up the automotive vehicle 11 on
reception of them passage detection signal before
reception of the passage permission signal.
The interface circuit 16 is connected to the
mobile communication eaxchange system 30 which has a
charge function to then mobile terminal 20. The interface
circuit 16 is cc~nnecte~d to the antenna 121 of each toll
lane 12 and identifier as the entry lane one of the
antennas 121 that receives the reception radio signal as
a strongest radio waves from the mobile terminal 20 in the
automotive vehicle 11. From the reception radio signal,
the interface circuit 16 detects the terminal number of
the mobile terminal 20 to send it to the mobile
communication exchange system 30.
On one hand, the mobile communication exchange
system 30 copes with various mobile communication
systems. The interface circuit 16 acts as a lane
identifying unit for identifying, as the entry lane, one
of the toll lanes 12 that the automotive vehicle 11 go
through to produce lane information indicative of the
entry lane. However, the lane identifying unit may be
omitted if the tollgate has only one toll lane 12. When
the entry lane 12 is identified, the interface circuit 16
sends the lane information to the terminal information
X194826
receiving unit :13.
On the other lhand, the mobile communication
exchange system 30 typically has an integrated data
storage (not shown) which preliminarily stores subscriber
data for use as terminal information. The subscriber
data includes tree namEa and the address of a payer as well
as the manner of payment, in relation to the subscriber
number or the te~rmina7L number of the mobile terminal 20.
Responsive to the terminal number, the mobile
communication exchange system 30 searches the terminal
information identifying the user of the mobile terminal
in the integrated data storage. The terminal
information is sent from the mobile communication
exchange system 30 via the interface circuit 16 to the
terminal information reception unit 13. In preparation
of toll charge data corresponding to the charge function,
the terminal information receiving unit 13 obtains from
the mobile communication exchange system 30 via the
interface circuit 16 the above-mentioned subscriber data
as the terminal information with reference to the
subscriber number or the terminal number of the mobile
terminal 20. That is, the terminal information reception
unit 13 serves in cooperation with the interface circuit
16 as an acquiring arrangement for acquiring the terminal
information by accessing the mobile communication
exchange system 30 using the terminal. number.
The terminal information receiving unit 13 is
equipped in each tollgate to receive from the mobile
2 I 94826
16
communication exchange system 30 via the interface
circuit 16 the 7Lane information and the terminal
information for each toll lane and to transmit the lane
information and the tEarminal information to the data
memory unit 14.
The data memory unit 14 is supplied from the
vehicle's class detector 122 with equipped lane
information of a. particular toll lane where the vehicle's
class detector 122 is equipped and with the vehicle's
class information detected by the vehicle's class
detector 122. On the other hand, the data memory unit 14
receives the terminal information and the lane
information from the terminal information receiving unit
13 as described above. The processing unit 17 collates
the lane information with the equipped lane information
to find coincidence therebetween. The processing unit 17
confirms the terminal information and the vehicle's class
corresponding to the toll lane 12 of coincidence.
After the terminal information and the vehicle's
class are confirmed, the processing unit 17 stores in the
data memory 14, as passage vehicle information, the
terminal information and the vehicle's class information
together with a passage time. In addition, the
processing unit 17 adds tollgate information to the
passage vehicle :Lnformation to prepare vehicle passage
data for transmission to the central processing computer
15. On the other hand, the processing unit 17 sends the
above-mentioned passage permission signal to the signal
2 I 94 826
17
unit 123 of the toll 7_ane 12 in consideration to turn on
the green light. In ease where the processing unit 17 is
notified from the signal unit 123 of execution of the
photographing operation, the processing unit 17 stores in
the data memory unit 14, as abnormal passage vehicle
information, the passage time and photograph information
together with the terminal information and the lane
information already collected. Simultaneously, the
abnormal passage vehicle information and the tollgate
information are transmitted to the central processing
computer 15 as the vehicle passage data.
The central processing computer 15 obtains the
vehicle passage .data from every tollgate. Inasmuch as
the illustrated toll collection system is a uniform rate
system, a particular tollgate defines a uniform or flat
rate. In this event, the central processing computer 15
recognizes the collection of the uniform rate with
reference to the name of the particular tollgate and the
vehicle's class ;so that the toll charge data can be
immediately prepared from the vehicle passage data of the
particular tollgate and stored in the memory of the
central processing computer 15. The toll charge data
accumulated in the central processing computer 15 can be
periodically read to prepare a bill which is sent to the
user.
In the foregoing, the vehicle's class is detected
by the number plate reader as the vehicle's class
detector in combination with vehicle's class data
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18
corresponding to the 'vehicle number. Alternatively, use
may be made of a step board and an optical detector like
in the prior aria. In this event, the vehicle's class of
the automotive vehicle entering the toll lane is detected
with reference t.o the number of axles. It is therefore
desired to temporaril~~r stop the automotive vehicle.
Referring to 1~ig. 2 in addition to Fig. 1,
description will. be made as regards an operation of
preparing the tollgates data transmitted from the
tollgate.
At first., when the automotive vehicle 11 enters
the toll lane 12 of the tollgate, the vehicle's class
detector 122 detects the vehicle's class of the
automotive vehicle 11 (step S1) and delivers the equipped
lane information and the vehicle's class signal to the
data memory unit 14. On the other hand, supplied with
the call from the mobile terminal 20 through the antenna
121 and the interface circuit 16, the mobile communi-
cation exchange system 30 establishes a channel and
transmits a dial tone to receive the passage permission
request (step S2) and the interface circuit 16 identifies
the toll lane 12 to produce the lane information (step
S3). Simultaneously, the mobile communication exchange
system 30 obtains the terminal information including the
identification of the payer with reference to the
terminal number contained in the call (step S4). The
lane information and the terminal information are
delivered to the data memory unit 14 through the terminal
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19
information receiving unit 13.
As mentioned above, the data memory unit 14
receives the equipped lane information and the vehicle's
class signal from the vehicle's class detector 122 on one
hand. On the other hand, the data memory unit 14
receives the lane information and the terminal
information from. the mobile communication exchange system
30 through the interface circuit 16 and the terminal
information receiving unit 13.
For the lane information of coincidence, the
processing unit 17 stares in the data memory unit 14, as
the passage vehicle information, the terminal information
and the vehicle's class signal together with the lane
information and the passage time (step S5). On the other
hand, the normality of the passage vehicle information
thus memorized is checked (step S6).
When the passage vehicle information as stored is
normal ("YES" in step S6), the processing unit 14 sends
the passage permission signal to the signal unit 123 to
switch the red light into the green light so as to allow
the passage of the automotive vehicle 11 (step S7) and
inhibits the photographing operation of the camera 124.
Then, when the vehicle 11 passes the signal unit 123
(step S8), the processing unit 17 delivers a passage
prohibition signal to the signal unit 123 to turn the
green light back to the red light (step S9). In this
event, the passage of any automotive vehicle is
prohibited while the inhibition of the photographing
2194826
operation by ths~ camera 124 is cancelled. On the other
hand, the passage vehjLcle information containing the lane
information, they tollgate information, and the passage
time are collectively delivered to the central processing
computer 15 as the vehicle passage data (step S10).
If the passage vehicle information stored in the
data memory unit 14 i:~ abnormal ("NO" in step S6), the
processing unit 17 notifies the user of the mobile
terminal 20 (the automative vehicle 11) that the passage
permission request should be performed again (step S11).
In this event, the sigfnal unit 123 keeps the red light.
When the automotive vehicle 11 advances to the position
of the signal unit 123. ("NO" in step S12), the camera 124
performs the photographing operation in response to the
instruction from the signal unit 123 and the abnormal
passage vehicle information is stored in the data memory
unit 14 (step S13). Then, the step S13 proceeds to the
step S10.
When the automotive vehicle 11 is kept stopped
because the signal unit 123 indicates the red light ("NO"
in step S12), the operation returns to the step S2 in
which the passage permission request is received.
Referring to Fig. 3, a toll collection system
according to a second embodiment of this invention is
similar in structure to that that illustrated in Fig. 1
except that the tollgate comprises a vehicle
identification unit 122A in place of the vehicle's class
detector 122.
2I 9+826
21
In the toll collection system, the tollgate is
used as an entrance tollgate or the an exit tollgate.
The vehicle identification unit 122A identifies the
automotive vehicle 11 to produce vehicle identification
(ID) information. The' vehicle identification unit 122A
may be the number plate reader for reading, as the
vehicle ID information, the registration number on the
number plate of the automotive vehicle 11. The vehicle
ID information indicates the vehicle number of the
automotive vehicle 11.
Inasmuch as bath the entrance tollgate and the
exit tollgate are involved, the vehicle passage data from
the entrance tollgate are stored as entrance data. With
reference to the vehicle passage data received from the
exit tollgate, the entrance data are searched for. With
reference to the both data, calculation is made of the
toll to prepare the toll charge data which are stored in
the central processing computer 15.
Next referring to Fig. 4 in combination with Fig.
3, description will be made as regards an operation of
preparing the toll charge data in case where a plurality
of entrance tollgates and a plurality of exit tollgates
are involved.
At first, the central processing computer 15
receives the vehicle passage data from the data memory
unit 14 of each tollgate (step S21). When received from
the entrance tollgate ("YES" in step S22), the central
processing computer 15 stores the vehicle passage data as
2194az6
22
the entrance dat:a (strap S23) in a memory (not shown). If
the entrance data thus received are abnormal ("YES" in
step S24), an abnormal data processing operation is
carried out in a predEatermined manner (step S25).
On the other hand, when the vehicle passage data
are received from the exit tollgate ("NO" in step S22),
the central processing computer 15 searches for the
entrance data with reference to the vehicle number of the
vehicle passage data received from the exit tollgate
(step S31). Thus, they entrance data of the same vehicle
number are related to the vehicle passage data received
from the exit tollgates ("YES" in step S32). For those
data, confirmation is made of the normality of the
terminal information o~f the mobile terminal 20 which
transmits the call. If the terminal information is
normal without any abnormality ("NO" in step S33), the
central processing computer 15 prepares the toll charge
data for a subscriber of the mobile terminal 20 (step
S34). On the other hand, when the terminal information
has any abnormality ("YES" in step S33), the toll charge
data are prepared for the vehicle number (step S35).
When the same vehicle number can not be found
("NO" in step S5), the central processing computer 15
recognizes the automotive vehicle 11 as an illegal
passage vehicle and performs a predetermined operation
(step S36).
In the foregoing, the subscriber data of the
mobile terminal are described as a part of the charge
~194~2b
23
function of the mobile communication exchange system and
included in the terminal information delivered from the
mobile communication exchange system. Alternatively, the
subscriber data may beg searched by the central processing
computer in correspondence to the subscriber number or
the terminal number delivered from the mobile
communication exchanges system.
In the foregoing, as far as the mobile
communication exchange system can discriminate the call
for the toll collection system, the lane identifying unit
having a function equivalent to the antenna identifying
function of the :mobile communication exchange system is
equipped in each tollgate together with the terminal
information receiving unit. Alternatively, the antenna
of the mobile communication exchange system may be
equipped in each toll lane and the mobile communication
exchange system may identify the toll lane in
consideration.
In the foregoing, the operation in the abnormal
condition is part:.ially described with the remaining part
omitted.
In the foregoing, a few embodiment have been
described by way of example. However, this invention is
not restricted to the .above-described embodiments but
includes various modifications by separation and
combination of the functions, exchange of the order of
the steps, performance of parallel operations, and so on.
24 2194826
In the above-mentioned toll collection systems
according to th_Ls invention, the data transmission/
reception unit .Ls implemented by the mobile terminal for
mobile communication. Each toll lane is equipped with
the antenna for receiving the terminal number and the
predetermined dial number transmitted from the mobile
terminal, and the vehicle's class detector for detecting
the vehicle's class o:E the automotive vehicle entering
the toll lane. Each tollgate is equipped with the
processing unit supplied from the antenna with the radio
signal carrying the dial number and the terminal number
for identifying the entry lane of the automotive vehicle
and for acquiring the terminal information. In addition,
the processing unit is also supplied from the vehicle's
class detector with the vehicle's class detected by the
vehicle's class deteci:or to obtain the vehicle's class
information. The processing unit then prepares and
stores in a data memory unit the passage vehicle
information cont.aininc~ the passage time, the lane
information, the' terminal information, and the vehicle's
class information. The central processing computer
obtains the veh~.cle passage data including the passage
vehicle information and the tollgate information from
every tollgate t.o prepare the toll charge data.
Since the mobile terminal for mobile
communication i~~ used as the data transmission/reception
unit for the toll collection system, the user of the
automotive vehicle is not required to have any special
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terminal equipment in order to use the toll road.
Furthermore, the vehicle's class detector for detecting
the vehicle's class o:~ the automotive vehicle entering
the toll lane is used in addition. It is therefore
possible to properly charge the toll to the user of the
toll road.
While this invention has thus far been described
in conjunction with a few preferred embodiments thereof,
it will now be readily possible for those skilled in the
art to put this invention into various other manners.
For example, them toll collection system may be applicable
to a parking space, o:r the like. In addition, the
tollgate may comprise only one toll lane.
