Patent Publication Number: US-2015066605-A1

Title: Method and system for toll payment service

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority from, and incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/872,026, filed Aug. 30, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/874,053, filed Sep. 5, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to toll payment systems and methods and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems and methods for providing anticipated prepaid toll payment services and/or post-paid toll payment services to users of vehicles operated by, for example, fleet operators or a rental-car agencies during a rental period. 
     2. History of Related Art 
     The crowding of highways within metropolitan areas has resulted in the development of additional traffic arteries known as toll roads. Toll roads have become increasingly popular, however, they require the payment of a toll fee for use by vehicular occupants. The collection of tolls by conventional means has had a negative effect upon highway throughput and safety. Congestion and long backups on toll plazas are becoming more common. Such conditions involve a significant economic cost, through lost time and reduced productivity. Moreover, serious accidents at toll plazas, caused by operators or mechanical failures, have also increased in frequency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method for providing a toll payment service, the method includes establishing, by a renter, a toll payment account with a vehicle operator via a third-party entity, providing, to the renter, a toll payment service option, and determining whether the renter has accepted the toll payment service option. Responsive to a determination that the renter has accepted the toll payment service option, adding toll-usage credit to the toll payment account of the renter for an amount based upon anticipated needs of the renter prior to toll usage. The toll-usage credit from the toll payment account is utilized for paying one or more toll authorities for toll usage. 
     An article of manufacture for providing a toll payment service, the article of manufacture includes at least one computer readable medium and processor instructions contained on the at least one computer readable medium, the processor instructions configured to be readable from the at least one computer readable medium by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to establish, by a renter, a toll payment account with a vehicle operator via a third-party entity, provide, to the renter, a toll payment service option, and determine whether the renter has accepted the toll payment service option. Responsive to a determination that the renter has accepted the toll payment service option, add toll-usage credit to the toll payment account of the renter for an amount based upon anticipated needs of the renter prior to toll usage. The toll-usage credit from the toll payment account is utilized for paying one or more toll authorities for toll usage. 
     A system includes a third-party entity interoperably connected to a toll authority and a toll-rental entity. A processor of the third-party entity is configured to establish, by a renter, a toll payment account with the third-party entity, provide, to the renter, a toll payment service option, and determine whether the renter has accepted the toll payment service option. Responsive to a determination that the renter has accepted the toll payment service option, add toll-usage credit to the toll payment account of the renter for an amount based upon anticipated needs of the renter prior to toll usage. The toll-usage credit from the toll payment account is utilized for paying the toll authority for toll usage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the method and system of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view illustrating an exit of a toll road; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a control device installed on an electronic toll collection lane; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a block diagram of a toll payment system in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a block diagram of a toll payment system in accordance with an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a block diagram of a wireless toll payment system utilized in conjunction with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates of a wireless toll payment system utilized in conjunction with an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 5A  is a flow illustrating a process for providing a toll payment service; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary messaging diagram in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating processing circuitry of components of the toll payment system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiment(s) of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying Drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment(s) set forth herein. The invention should only be considered limited by the claims as they now exist and the equivalents thereof. 
     Today, users of vehicles operated by, for example, a fleet operator or a rental-car agency who use toll roads are responsible to pay toll authorities for the toll usage. As such, users are prone to the purchase of, for example, a toll tracking device or setup an account with toll authorities to pay for toll usage. For example, the toll tracking device allows the users to bypass cash only toll gate and, in many instances, the vehicle can maintain its normal speed as it traverses the toll gate wherein the passage of the toll fee tracking device is recorded. Popularity of the toll tracking device has expanded to a point that a normal user of the toll tracking device can be frustrated by the lines at toll gates when the toll fee tracking device is not available. Unavailability of the toll tracking device can be for numerous reasons, not the least of which is the use of rental cars. However, if the users do not pre-arrange the payment agreement with toll authorities and use the toll roads, the users get billed by the toll authorities for the toll usage along with additional fines and processing charges. 
     Alternately, users of vehicles operated by, for example, a fleet operator or a rental-car agency that use toll roads may also purchase, for example, a prepaid toll service that allows the users to use the toll roads for a fixed daily subscription fee. Processes such as those described above are more convenient and economical for users who use the toll roads extensively; however, the processes described above are not suitable for users who use the toll road infrequently. In order to satisfy the requirements of infrequent toll road users, a flexible toll payment service is needed that provides flexibility to users to make their own judgment for the amount of money they prefer to allocate for toll expense during a rental period. For example, the rental period may be a duration for which a user desires to rent a vehicle such as, for example, a day, a week, a month, a year, and the like. 
     In a typical embodiment, users of vehicles operated by, for example, a fleet operator or a rental-car agency may setup a toll payment account with the fleet operator or the rental-car agency and fund the toll account. The funds from the toll payment account are utilized for paying the toll authorities for toll usage during the rental period. For example, the toll payment account may be used for payment for anticipated future toll usage in order to avoid additional fines and processing charges from the toll authorities or the fleet operators. The users may also pay for the toll usage upon returning the vehicles to the fleet operators for toll usage during the rental period. 
     In a typical embodiment, the flexible pre-paid toll payment service is a toll service for which a credit is purchased in advance of toll usage. The purchased credit is added to a user&#39;s toll payment account that was setup with the fleet operator or the rental-car agency. The purchased credit varies based upon the anticipated needs of individuals. For example, an individual who rents a vehicle for three days and anticipates using the toll roads infrequently may decide to purchase credit for $5. Alternately, an individual who rents a vehicle for seven days and anticipates using the toll roads frequently may decide to purchase credit for $25. The purchased credit is used to pay for using toll roads operated by various toll authorities throughout the country. The purchased credit is non-refundable and is valid for the duration of the rental period. The payment for the purchased credit could be made upfront to the rental car agency or the fleet operator for future toll usage. Exemplary embodiments allow individuals to make a decision on the amount of money the individual will pay to the rental car agency or the fleet operator. The rental car agency or the fleet operator will use the money from the individuals to pay the toll authorities for the individual&#39;s toll usage. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates two Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) lanes  102 . In each of the ETC lanes  102 , tolls are automatically collected from each vehicle along the lanes  102  through toll collection techniques such as, for example, radio communication between a toll tracking device (e.g., a radio frequency integrated device (RFID) transponder) and a toll collection unit installed on each ETC lane  102 , license plate recognition techniques, and the like. The toll collection units are typically owned by a toll authority and are situated on toll authority property. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplary embodiments can be practiced in connection with roadways having additional lanes, including multi-lane divided highways, bridges, and tunnels. As one skilled in the art will appreciate the invention can also be practiced in connection with numerous other transport systems such as, for example, railways and waterways. 
     On each ETC lane  102 , a vehicle type identifying device  104 , a license plate monitor camera  106 , an antenna  108 , a vehicle detector  110 , and a display  112  are arranged. The vehicle type identifying device  104  identifies the type of a vehicle passing thereby. The license plate monitor camera  106  captures an image of a license plate of the vehicle to read a license plate number out of the image. The vehicle detector  110  may be, for example, a photoelectric cell for optically sensing the presence of a vehicle and generating a VEHICLE PRESENT signal. 
     The automatic toll collection system includes a control device  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , one for each ETC lane  102 . The control device  200  has a lane control computer  202  which controls operations of the vehicle type identifying device  104 , the license plate monitor camera  106 , and a toll collecting unit  204 . The control device  200  receives information signals from the vehicle detector  110  indicating the passing of the vehicle. The lane control computer communicates with a toll booth computer  206 . The toll booth computer  206  communicates with a network  208  for transmission of information. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a block diagram  300 A of a toll payment system in accordance with an embodiment. The system  300 A includes a toll authority  302 , a toll-rental entity  304 , and a third-party entity  306 . The toll-rental entity  304  interfaces with both a toll authority  302  and a third-party entity  306 . In a typical embodiment, the toll-rental entity  304  acts as a communication channel between the toll authority  302  and the third-party entity  306  for forwarding data from the toll authority  302  to the third-party entity  306  in, for example, real-time, near real-time, or at regular predetermined intervals. 
     In a typical embodiment, the third-party entity  306  may be, for example, a fleet operator, a rental-car agency, a transport rental company, a transport leasing company, and the like. The third-party entity  30  may also be a standalone Kiosk Terminal at a third-party entity location, a standalone website online service, part of a third-party entity&#39;s point-of-sale (POS) system, part of a third-party entity&#39;s online website, part of a third-party entity&#39;s smartphone application, standalone smartphone application, and In-vehicle computer application, a telephone service, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service, an electronic mail (E-mail) service, a text message service, a messaging service, and the like. The third-party entity  306  is configured to provide users of their vehicles an option to enroll in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service at the time of renting a vehicle. In a typical embodiment, the flexible pre-paid toll payment service is a toll service for which a credit is purchased in advance of toll usage. The purchased credit varies based upon the anticipated needs of individuals. The flexible pre-paid toll payment service provides flexibility to rental vehicle users to make their own judgment for the amount of money they prefer to allocate for toll expense during their rental period. For example, an individual who rents a vehicle for three days and anticipates using the toll roads infrequently may decide to purchase a credit for $7 for future toll usage. Alternately, an individual who rents a vehicle for over a week and anticipates using the toll roads frequently may decide to purchase a credit for $40 for future toll usage. The purchased credit is used to pay for using toll roads operated by various toll authorities throughout the country. The purchased credit is non-refundable and is valid for the duration of the rental period. 
     In a typical embodiment, an individual may purchase, at the time of renting the vehicle, credit for future toll usage. The purchased credit is added to the individual&#39;s toll payment account that was setup with the third-party entity  306  and depends upon the anticipated needs of the individual. The third-party entity  306  also charges a processing fee for providing the flexible pre-paid toll payment service. For example, if the individual purchases, at the time of renting the vehicle, only a $5 credit for future toll usage, the individual may end up paying an additional $3 in processing fees. According to exemplary embodiments, individuals are able to reload their credit at any time during the rental period using a variety of payment methodologies. The payment methodologies may include, for example, calling the third-party entity  306  to reload, accessing an account at a website of the third-party entity  306 , accessing an account using a third-party entity  306  application via a communication device, accessing an account using a third-party entity  306  application via an on-board computer within the vehicle, and the like. In a typical embodiment, the communication device may be, for example, a desktop computer, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and the like. 
     The processing fees are set by the third-party entity  306  and may differ depending on various instances. As referenced above, if the individual purchases, at the time of renting the vehicle, only a $5 credit for future toll usage, the individual may end up paying $3 in processing fees. However, if the individual purchases, at the time of renting the vehicle, $25 credit for future toll usage, the individual may end up paying only $2 in processing fees. Alternately, if the individual decides to reload their credit at any time prior to exhausting the initially purchased credit, the third-party entity  306  may charge a processing fee of, for example, $5. In situations, when a customer decides to reload their credit at any time after exhausting the initially purchased credit, the third-party entity  306  may charge a higher processing fee of, for example, $10. 
     When a vehicle enrolled in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service passes a toll gate of the toll authority  302 , the toll authority  302  collects data using methodology such as, for example, RFID transponder reader, license plate recognition, and the like. The data which includes information related to the toll fee charged to the vehicle may be passed from the toll-rental entity  302  to the third-party entity  304  via the toll-rental entity  304  in real-time or near real-time such that the third-party entity  304  utilizes the individual&#39;s purchased credit to pay for the toll related charges. In short, the toll-rental entity  304  acts as a communication channel between the toll authority  302  and the third-party entity  306  for forwarding data from the toll authority  302  to the third-party entity  306  in a real-time, near real-time fashion, or at regular predetermined intervals. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the toll payment system  300 B in accordance with an alternate embodiment in which the toll-rental entity  304  may be integrated into an existing operating system of the third-party entity  306 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrates a block diagram of a wireless toll payment system utilized in conjunction with the present invention. Although all portions of the system of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are shown communicating via wireless links, it will understood by one skilled in the art that one or more portions of the system may be communicated via a wired network or other technology. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates in detail a process flow  500  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Although steps of the flow  500  are depicted in a particular sequence, it will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art that certain steps of the process need not necessarily follow a strict sequence but can be rearranged and/or performed simultaneously. For illustrative purposes, the process  500  will be described relative to  FIGS. 1-4B . The process  500  starts at step  502 . At step  504 , an individual rents a vehicle (renter) operated by, for example, a fleet operator or a rental-car agency. At step  506 , a toll account is created for the individual. In a typical embodiment, the toll account is created and maintained by the third-party entity  306  and may be used for payment for anticipated future toll usage. Individuals may also pay for the toll usage upon returning the vehicles to the third-party entity  306 . 
     At the time of renting the vehicle, the individual is offered an option to enroll in a flexible pre-paid toll payment service. In a typical embodiment, the flexible pre-paid toll payment service is a toll payment service for which a credit is purchased in advance of toll usage. The purchased credit depends upon the anticipated needs of individuals. The flexible pre-paid toll payment service provides flexibility to rental vehicle users to make their own judgment for the amount of money they prefer to allocate for toll expense during their rental period. At step  508 , the third-party entity  306  determines whether the individual has accepted the option to enroll in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service. If it is determined at step  508  that the individual has declined to enroll in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service, the process  500  proceeds to step  510 . At step  510 , it is determined whether the individual in the rented vehicle has used toll roads. If it is determined at step  510  that the individual in the rented vehicle has not used toll roads, the process proceeds to step  530 . At step  530 , the individual returns the vehicle to the fleet operator. From step  530 , the process  500  ends at step  532 . 
     However, if it is determined at step  510  that the individual in the rented vehicle has used toll roads, the process proceeds to step  512 . At step  512 , the third-party entity  306  receives toll usage information from the toll authority  302 . The toll usage information may be, for example, toll usage date, toll usage time, toll usage amount, and the like for individuals in rented vehicles who declined to enroll in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service. At step  514 , the third-party entity  306  reconciles the toll account for the individual. In a typical embodiment, the third-party entity  306  charges the individual for each toll transaction along with a transaction fee per toll transaction. For example, if the individual uses the toll roads three times during the duration of the rental period incurring $10 in toll charges, the third-party entity  306  charges the individual $10 for toll charges along with $2 for every time the individual uses the toll road. In alternate embodiments, the third-party entity  306  may charge the individual $10 for toll charges along with a $25 daily administrative fee. At step  516 , the individual pays the third-party entity  306  and the third-party entity  306  pays the toll authority  302 . At step  530 , the individual returns the vehicle to the third-party entity  306 . From step  530 , the process  500  ends at step  532 . 
     However, if it is determined at step  508  that the individual has accepted to enroll in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service, the process  500  proceeds to step  518 . At step  518 , the individual in the rented vehicle uses the toll roads. At step  520 , the third-party entity  306  receives toll usage information from the toll authority  302  directly or via the toll-rental entity  304 . The toll usage information may be, for example, toll usage date, toll usage time, toll usage amount, and the like for individuals in rented vehicles who enrolled in the flexible pre-paid toll payment service. At step  522 , it is determined whether the toll usages charges incurred by the individual exceed the purchased credit. If it is determined at step  522  that the toll usage charges incurred by the individual do not exceed the purchased credit, the process  500  proceeds to step  530 . At step  530 , the individual returns the vehicle to the fleet operator. From step  530 , the process  500  ends at step  532 . 
     However, if it is determined at step  522  that the toll usage charges incurred by the individual exceed the purchased credit, the process  500  proceeds to step  524 . At step  524 , the third-party entity  306  receives toll usage information from the toll authority  302 . The toll usage information may be, for example, toll usages charges incurred by the individual after exceeding the purchased credit. At step  526 , the third-party entity  306  reconciles the toll account for the individual. In a typical embodiment, the third-party entity  306  charges the individual for each additional toll transaction along with a transaction fee per toll transaction. For example, if the individual uses the toll roads three additional times during the duration of the rental period incurring $10 in toll charges, the third-party entity  306  charges the individual $10 for toll charges along with $2 for every time the individual uses the toll road. In alternate embodiments, the third-party entity  306  may charge the individual $10 for toll charges along with a $25 daily administrative fee. At step  528  the individual pays the third-party entity  306  and the third-party entity  306  pays the toll authority  302 . At step  530 , the individual returns the vehicle. From step  530 , the process  500  ends at step  532 . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary messaging diagram  550  depicting message flow between the toll authority  302 , the third-party entity  306 , and an individual renting a vehicle. Although the message flow is depicted in a particular sequence, it will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art that message flow need not necessarily follow a strict sequence but can be rearranged and/or performed simultaneously. For illustrative purposes, the messaging diagram  550  has been described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-5A . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating processing circuitry  600  of the toll authority  302 , the toll-rental entity  304 , and the third-party entity  306 . The processing circuitry  600  includes a processor  602  connected to a bus  603 . The bus  603  serves as a connection channel between the processor  602  and various other components of the toll authority  302 , the toll-rental entity  304 , and the third-party entity  306 . User input/output devices such as, for example, a keyboard  604  and touchpad  606 , are coupled to the processor  602 . Further examples of input/output devices may include touchscreens, pointing trackballs, trackpads, and a variety of other input/output devices. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  608 , coupled to the processor  602 . Examples of the mass storage device  608  may include, for example, hard discs, optical disks, magneto-optical discs, solid-state storage devices, and a variety of other mass storage devices. 
     A system memory  610  is coupled to the processor  602  to provide the processor  602  with fast storage to facilitate execution by the processor  602 . Examples of system memory  610  may include, for example, random access memory (RAM) devices such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), solid state memory devices, and a variety of other memory devices. A network interface  212  is coupled to the processor  602 . The network interface  612  is configured to establish network connection. In a typical embodiment, the network interface  612  is configured to communicate via for example, the Internet. The processing circuitry  600  also includes a transceiver  614  for receiving and transmitting data and a payment processing module  616 . The payment processing module  616  may include, for example, at least one rental point-of-sale (POS) terminal and at least one invoice unit. The processing circuitry  600  also includes a database  618  for data storage. The database can be, for example, an Oracle™ database, a MS Access™ database, MS SQL, IBM DB2, and the like. 
     Exemplary embodiments provide an option for the individuals renting a vehicle operated by, for example, a fleet operator or a rental-car agency to pay for the anticipated unpaid toll charges incurred during the rental period on the rental vehicle to eliminate additional charges such as, for example, administrative fees and fines on the toll roads for unpaid toll charges. 
     In addition, various embodiments provide improved performance, reliability and overall economics of automated individual&#39;s highway toll service utilization on the rental vehicle and automation of toll payment processing with the toll authorities for the unpaid tolls for the fleet operator&#39;s vehicle. 
     Furthermore, various embodiments provide a system for monitoring and reporting an individual&#39;s anticipated toll service enablement option for the fleet operator, receiving payment from the individual renting the vehicle, receiving payment authorization for post payment charges, establishing interface with the toll authorities, issuing agency, moving citation issuer for the fleet operator unpaid moving citations, making payment for the unpaid moving citations, determining individuals responsible for the moving citation, charging individuals by deducting anticipated toll payment received from the individual and/or charges individual&#39;s pre-authorized payment source, notifying the individual for the individual&#39;s moving citation activity and or payment updates, optionally may fully or partially issue a refund on individual&#39;s anticipated toll payment with processing fees deducted. 
     Additionally, various embodiments provide a system and method for individual rental vehicle renters, individuals of a third-party vehicle owned or managed by, for example, vehicle operator or rental car agency, to pay the third-party entity for the anticipated toll usage during the rental period to eliminate additional charges such as, for example, administrative fees and fines for unpaid tolls. Individuals may authorize payment for the anticipated toll usage during at least one of, for example, a vehicle reservation time, a vehicle check-out time, a vehicle check-in time and during a vehicle rental time. 
     Although various embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein.