TOLL SYSTEM

Abstract: A toll system with a plurality of toll stations and a multitude of credit/authorization cards, the credit/authorization cards being readable, and possibly writable, via a contact arrangement or in a contactless manner over a short distance, every toll station of the toll system including a device for the direct reading or writing of the credit/authorization cards. In accordance with the invention at least some toll stations are additionally equipped with a transmitter and receiver unit which communicates with a corresponding transponder installed in some vehicles, the transponder directly reading or writing the credit/authorization card and transferring the data to or from the transmitter and receiver unit. Even if only a part of the vehicles is equipped with transponders and only a part of the toll stations is provided with transmitter and receiver units, a substantial part of the settlements can be made in a non-stop fashion, which is of essential importance in avoiding traffic backups.

Description: Toll system. The present invention relates to a toll system with a plurality of toll stations and a multitude of credit/authorization cards, the credit/authorization cards being readable, and possibly writable, via a contact arrangement or in a contactless manner over a short distance, every toll station of the toll system including a device for the direct reading or writing of the credit/authorization cards. Toll stations are to be understood to mean entrance checkpoints as well as exit checkpoints. The term "over a short distance" is to be understood as the operating range of contactless data carriers (for example, cards) which may be from a few centimeters up to a few meters. At present two types of toll system are known: 1) Toll systems in which a transaction (payment, checking of access authorization and the like) takes place while the vehicle slowly drives past or stops in front of the toll station (Stop Toll Station or STS for short). Magnetic strip cards are customarily used as the storage medium for transaction data (credit, authorizations, entrance point ...) which is introduced into or passed by an appropriate device by the driver. 2) Toll systems in which a vehicle passes a toll station at a comparatively high speed and nevertheless a transaction is carried out are in a pilot stage (Non-Stop Toll Station or NSTS for short). A chip card entered in a transponder can then be used as the storage medium for transaction data. The transponder, being mounted customarily inside the vehicle, communicates with a transmitter and receiver unit of the toll station in a contactless manner. For example, microwave or infrared technology (Non-Stop Toll) can be used for the contactless transmission. The high costs thereof are a drawback: to the vehicle owners who have to equip their vehicle with a transponder as well as to the operator of the road who must equip all toll stations, including those which are only infrequently visited, with an expensive transmitter and receiver unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toll system which is less expensive than the latter system and which nevertheless enables non-stop clearance for a major part of the clearances to be made. In accordance with the invention this object is achieved by a toll system of the kind set forth in that at least some toll stations are additionally equipped with a transmitter and receiver unit which communicates with a corresponding transponder installed in some vehicles, the transponder directly reading or writing the credit/authorization card and transferring the data to or from the transmitter and receiver unit. The invention thus consists in combining STS and NSTS in a single toll system. For example, the toll system stations at locations of the road network with a high traffic volume can be constructed as NSTS and as STS. At locations with a low traffic volume, for example side roads or minor highway feeders or minor highway exits, the TS is constructed as an STS only. Considering that, generally speaking, there are more low-volume accesses and exits than high-volume accesses and exits, a substantial cost saving is thus achieved. Nevertheless, traffic backups can be avoided because non-stop clearance is possible at the high-volume accesses and exits. Furthermore, the system is conceived so that at locations with a high traffic volume an NSTS and an STS are operative, for example in separate lanes. The driver of a vehicle can thus decide to use either the less expensive approach, i.e. carry out the road use transaction by means of the credit/authorization card at the STS, or the handier and time- saving transponder (NSTS). Thus, drivers of vehicles without a transponder are not driven away from toll roads, which would be undesirable from a traffic policy point of view. Every driver willing to make the small investment for a credit/authorization card can enter the toll roads via all accesses and leave these roads via all exits. The invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. Therein: Fig. 1 shows a road with a plurality of feeders and exits, and Fig. 2 shows a toll station. Every driver of a vehicle who wishes to use toll roads must have a chip card. This chip card may be conceived as a credit card, i.e. upon payment a corresponding sum is transferred to the card and at the toll station the relevant road toll is deducted. It may also be conceived as an authorization card, i.e. against appropriate payment a card is obtained which authorizes the use of given roads for a given period of time. However, it may also concern an identification card; in that case the toll stations detect the passage of the vehicle so that the route, and hence the road toll, can be determined and invoiced later. The cards are preferably chip cards which can be read, and possibly written, in a contactless manner over a small distance. (Writing is absolutely necessary only in the case of credit cards.) Consequently, the clearances involving a stop also take place comparatively quickly (avoiding traffic backups) and the terminals do not require any moving parts (reduction of maintenance costs). In accordance with the invention, STS and NSTS are combined at various points 1 along roads with a high traffic volume (see Fig. 1). At low-volume feeders and/or exits 2 it is also possible to install only STS. Fig. 2 shows a combination of STS and NSTS: the lane A has an STS and the lane B an NSTS. Drivers who often use toll roads will equip their vehicle with a transponder. A chip card as described above is inserted into the transponder. The transponder reads or writes the chip card and communicates with a transmitter and receiver unit of the NSTS on lane B over comparatively long distances. Because the transponder itself does not store data but only transmits data from and to the chip card which must be purchased by every driver, every driver will be charged in conformity with the number of kilometers driven. Drivers who only rarely use toll roads, and hence do not wish to purchase a transponder, must use lane A and pass the chip card by the appropriate device. However, for this purpose they must stop or at least slow down to walking speed. Considering the fact that drivers who frequently use toll roads will purchase a transponder and the fact that roads with a high traffic volume are equipped with NSTS, the majority of clearances can be made in a non-stop fashion and traffic backups can be avoided. Nevertheless, the overall cost is low because it is neither necessary to install transmitter and receiver units for low-volume roads nor is it necessary to equip vehicles that only rarely travel on toll roads with transponders. The chip cards may also be valid for payment outside toll stations, for example for paying parking fees or purchasing tickets for public transport.

Claims: CLAIM: A toll system with a plurality of toll stations and a multitude of credit/authorization cards, the credit/authorization cards being readable, and possibly writable, via a contact arrangement or in a contactless manner over a short distance, every toll station of the toll system including a device for the direct reading or writing of the credit/authorization cards, characterized in that at least some toll stations are additionally equipped with a transmitter and receiver unit which communicates with a corresponding transponder installed in some vehicles, the transponder directly reading or writing the credit/authorization card and transferring the data to or from the transmitter and receiver unit.

Inventors: BERGER DOMINIK, HARRER ALEXANDER, BERGER, DOMINIK, HARRER, ALEXANDER
Applicants: MIKRON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT FUER, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS NORDEN AB, MIKRON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT FUER INTEGRIERTE MIKROELE, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G07B15
IPC codes: G07B15