IP Library Granted Patent US 8,026,832
Granted Patent B2
US 8,026,832 · App. 12/198,806 · Granted Sep 27, 2011

Mobile system for exacting parking tolls

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,026,832
App. No.
12/198,806
Granted
Sep 27, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Mobile systems are provided for charging electronic toll collection accounts for parking fees. The systems are configured to wirelessly request and receive tag data from an electronic toll device. Some embodiments include a vehicle and a boom, some embodiments include a handheld device, and other embodiments include combinations thereof. Methods of charging an electronic toll payment system are also provided. A mobile scan system wirelessly requests and receives tag data from an electronic toll device on a customer's vehicle which is checked for validity, and then an electronic toll collection account is charged a fee for parking.

Claims (26)

1. An electronic scan apparatus, comprising:

a mobile system configured to wirelessly request and receive electronic tag data from a plurality of electronic toll devices in order to collect payment for from vehicles entering or exiting a parking venue through multiple vehicle lanes, the mobile system comprising:

a plurality of wireless readers each capable of wirelessly communicating with the electronic toll devices associated with the vehicles, wherein each wireless reader is directed to a different one of the lanes; and

a computer equipped with a database for verifying valid electronic toll devices from the electronic tag data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile system comprises a boom and a parking system vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one of the wireless readers comprises a handheld scan device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the mobile system further comprises a personal data assistant (PDA) in communication with the handheld scan device, the PDA storing a list of valid RFID tags associated with the electronic tag data for an electronic toll collection system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the mobile system further comprises a portable printer in communication with the PDA.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the portable printer is configured for mounting on an attendant's belt.

7. An electronic toll collection system, comprising:

a toll collection vehicle;

a boom attached to the toll collection vehicle, the boom configured to extend laterally from the toll collection vehicle over a lane at a height sufficient to allow for vehicles to pass under, and the boom comprising a reader configured to wirelessly communicate with an electronic tag associated with an electronic toll collections (ETC) account; and

a computer in communication with the reader, the computer configured to verify valid tag data read by the reader and to provide an indication of valid tag data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computer facilitates charging the ETC account a fee for parking a customer vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a handheld RFID reader capable of communication with the computer, the handheld RFID reader configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic tag.

10. A method of charging an electronic toll payment system, comprising:

using a mobile scan system at an entrance or exit to a parking venue to wirelessly request and receive electronic tag data from an electronic toll device on a vehicle as it moves past the mobile scan system to enter or exit the parking venue, the mobile scan system comprising a reader and a computer;

comparing said tag data to a list of valid toll devices using the computer;

creating resulting transaction data when the electronic toll device is included on the list of valid toll devices; and

transmitting said resulting transaction data to charge an account associated with the electronic toll device so as to collect a parking fee.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the computer comprises a PDA.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the computer further comprises a laptop computer.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein using comprises waving a handheld RFID reader over the electronic toll device in the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing an indication of successful transaction when creating resulting transaction data.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein providing the indication of successful transaction comprises a green indicator light at the entrance or exit.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein using comprises providing an attendant with a handheld RFID reader for waving over the electronic toll device in the vehicle, and providing the indication of successful transaction comprises providing a message on a personal digital assistant (PDA) in communication with the handheld RFID reader.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: SOUND POINT AGENCY LLC
To: GANNETT FLEMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 068185/0663 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2022
From: GANNETT FLEMING, INC.
To: SOUND POINT AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 062164/0736 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: GANNETT FLEMING, INC
Reel/Frame 050837/0879 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2008
From: WEISS, STANLEY B.; KOLB, MICHAEL
To: TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 021453/0431 →