Patent ID: 8587454
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
1. A method of processing electronic toll collection (ETC) for a motorist and/or subscriber having a wireless mobile device linked to a vehicle and/or billing account, using a wireless service, the method comprising: receiving a service activation request from the motorist and/or subscriber via the mobile device; updating a motorist and/or subscriber database record to indicate that wireless ETC service has been activated for the motorist and/or subscriber; establishing a plurality of waypoints and/or Wi-Fi hotspots to define “virtual” toll locations and/or “virtual” toll barrier(s) and/or “virtual” toll boundary(s) having a given toll(s) that is to be paid by the motorist and/or subscriber; sensing that the motorist and/or subscriber is within range of and/or is passing a “virtual” toll location(s) and/or a “virtual” toll barrier (s) and/or a “virtual” toll boundary(s); sending a charge transaction to an ETC system, the charge transaction indicating a toll to be paid by the motorist and/or subscriber as a consequence of the motorist and/or subscriber passing the “virtual” toll location(s) and/or the “virtual” toll barrier(s) and/or the “virtual” toll boundary(s); and generating a billing record for the motorist and/or subscriber indicating that said toll is to be billed to the motorist and/or subscriber.