IT8922122A1 - AUTOMATIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR URBAN AND EXTRA-URBAN HIGHWAYS, FOR CROSSING BRIDGES AND TUNNELS AND FOR ACCESS TO URBAN AREAS AND PARKING LOTS - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic toll exaction system which comprises an onboard apparatus (5-9) which can be mounted onboard a motor vehicle (1) for the reception and transmission of messages, the handling and storage of the transactions and for interaction with the user, a personal card suitable (2) for activating the onboard apparatus, identifying the user and storing the payment transactions, and a ground-based apparatus (3,4) for ensuring the linkup with the onboard apparatus (5-9) for the exchange of data and messages, for sensing physical parameters suitable for classifying the vehicle (1) and for performing the processing of the data and parameters supplied by the onboard apparatus (5-9) and sensed by the ground-based apparatus (3,4) itself.

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an automatic toll collection system for urban and extra-urban motorways, for crossing bridges and tunnels and for accessing urban areas and car parks.

How ? known, over the years, in consideration of the fact that the motorway system plays a strategic role of development and integration of the territory,? has been developed an extensive integrated network capable of providing the necessary guarantees of viability? as well? new services related to parking and information more and more? complete with viability? and tourist-culture ii. In particular, to increase fluidity, safety and comfort on the motorway network, and in order to reduce traffic congestion at the stations, which? suffered by the users of the motorway with growing impatience, there? was a constant commitment to the adaptation of structures and the development of automation. An additional fluidization factor? constituted by the possibility? payment of the toll through electronic money in the two forms with a "prepaid to deduct" card or by direct debit or through affiliated entities or finally by debiting a bank account (VIACARD system).

However ? felt the need for a further improvement in transport and fluidity? on the main multimodal corridors and the adaptation of accesses to metropolitan areas.

Consequently, the aim of the present invention is to provide an automatic toll collection system for urban and extra-urban motorways, for crossing bridges and tunnels and for accessing urban areas and car parks capable of satisfying these needs for improvement in the transport through dynamic toll collection.

Within this aim, a particular object of the present invention is to provide an automatic toll collection system capable of:

- at the same time provide the dissemination of timely and timely information on viability? and services offered

- guarantee greater fluidity, safety, reduction of pollution at the stations and energy saving as the vehicle will not have to? pi? stop on the track, but can? transit at the speed? imposed by safety regulations; - have great reliability and modularity? to ensure the gradual introduction of the various services provided and an easy implementation of the new ones;

- be easily integrated into existing structures, both as regards the vehicles and the road, and in particular the geometry of the stations.

The system according to the invention must also be compatible and interactive with the toll collection systems currently installed, allow the maintenance of the e-money circuits currently in place and allow the opening to integration with computer systems.

The indicated task, the aforementioned purposes, and still others that will appear better later are achieved by a toll collection system for urban and extra-urban motorways, for crossing bridges and tunnels and for accessing urban areas and car parks, as defined in the claims attached.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows the three essential components of the system according to the invention;

Figure 2 presents the block diagram of the on-board apparatus;

Figure 3 schematically shows the geometry of a station made according to the invention and showing the subdivision of the areas affected by the system;

Figure 4 presents the block diagram of the ground equipment; And

Figures 5-8 show block diagrams of the steps for automatic toll collection according to the invention.

With reference to fig. 1, the system according to the invention is substantially composed of three parts, and more precisely an on-board equipment (composed of the units shown in Fig. 2), mounted inside a car 1 in a position accessible to the driver, a card personnel 2, which must be inserted in the on-board equipment for the use of the toll collection system according to the invention, and a ground equipment (represented in fig. 1 by a buoy 3 on which an antenna 4 is mounted and schematized in Fig. 4) which ensures the connection with the on-board equipment and the processing of data for toll collection. This ground equipment also allows connection with the units? existing IT and automation systems.

The on-board equipment has the function of ensuring the transmission of messages, the management and storage of transactions and interaction with the user (generally the driver). In detail, this equipment (see Fig. 2) comprises a ground-on-board radio connection section (composed of an antenna 5 and a transceiver device 6, of a known type), an information processing section (composed of by a control unit 7 equipped with its own memory 8) by a section for reading and coding the card (card reader 9) and by a man-machine interface 10, typically consisting of a display including a red LED and a green one to display messages sent by the ground equipment or generated by the unit? control 7 and a two-tone acoustic alarm system to attract the user's attention and replicate the visual indication provided by the LEDs. Also can? be provided a third LED, yellow, which indicates, when lit, that the card can not? be extracted from the reader. Finally, can means be envisaged to allow the user to receive further information relating to viability? and traffic. Such means can be constituted for example by displays and / or loudspeakers, or other solutions suitable for the purpose, as well as by elements for connecting with the already existing equipment. available on board (radio, etc.).

The personal card, which for example can? be created as an extension of the VIACARD (Registered Trademark) cards, it has the function of activating the on-board equipment, identifying the user and memorizing operational data (such as the operation or blocking of the card as well as payment transactions toll or other goods or services). Appropriately, to ensure the confidentiality of the dialogue, protect access to the system and store operational data, such a card? made according to the technology of cards with microprocessor, also containing electrically rewritable memories. Furthermore, suitably, the card has on the same support magnetic tracks recorded according to the codes in place, to allow the use of the same card (which can be extracted from the on-board equipment) even with the normal station equipment for automatic collection of the tolls and those being installed for the payment of fuel and refreshments.

The card, how will it come? explained more? in detail later, once inserted in the on-board equipment, it is checked upon entering the motorway and stores the characteristic data in place of the ticket for the completion of the exit transaction. It also stores every single transaction justifying each charge, thus constituting a reminder for the user of the trips made, it contains the constraints of use (credit limit differentiated by service and over time) as well as? verifies and stores that the system has enabled the use of the service, through checks on a black or white list, according to the established procedures.

The ground equipment, as already? indicated, has the function of communicating with that on board for the exchange of data and messages necessary to guarantee the dynamic collection of the toll and the sending of general information on viability? and traffic, as well? to perform the necessary data processing. In particular, according to the content of the messages, two different modalities are created? transmission present at the same time with automatic passage from one to the other. The first mode? ? addressed to a single user for dynamic toll collection through a selective connection (in particular with the identification and classification of the vehicle, its association with the card inserted in the on-board equipment). There? involves the need to locate the vehicle and maintain a one-to-one correspondence between the physical parameters detected with the ground instrumentation and the user identification data collected via radio. The second mode? transmission? turned to plurality? of users (circular transmission) for the dissemination of general information, such as the state of traffic? or the availability? of services. In particular, in this case, the ground equipment allows the sending of information on traffic conditions, presence of construction sites, traffic interruptions, detours, travel times, recommended alternative routes, availability? services, weather conditions and the presence of personal messages at the pi? nearby service area. This system, in configuration pi? simple, allows you to carry this information along the highway and possibly, through special installations, even along the road network. ordinary.

Consequently, each single station built according to the present automatic toll collection system has the structure shown in fig. 3. In this figure, the reference numbers 16 indicate two stretches of motorway that can be traveled in the direction of exit (typically they represent the two junctions with the carriageways or lanes of the motorway), 17 indicates the stretch after the tollbooth that can be traveled in the direction of entry towards the actual motorway, 18 represents a road (eg a provincial road), connected to the motorway through sections 16 and 17, and 19 indicates the station. The station, according to the invention, comprises a plurality of of areas, in which the messages necessary for automatic collection are exchanged. In detail, there are three areas, corresponding to three logical phases which are replicated both at the entrance and at the exit in the case of a closed motorway system:

a) a first, approach, during which the ground system emits circular signals to communicate the availability? of the service and activate the on-board device which, passing from a listening state to an active one, carries out all the self-diagnosis and functionality checks. of the card. The positive outcome of these checks, made known to the user, authorizes him to continue towards the gate enabled for the electronic toll service; otherwise an alarm signal invites him to go to another door with manual or automatic toll collection. This phase is carried out in the areas indicated with AREA 1E (entrance to the motorway) and AREA 1U (exit). The areas 1E and 1U are chosen in such a way that at this stage the vehicle normally does not? channeled and radio coverage? extended enough to ensure the connection with all vehicles in transit potentially interested in the message. In this area the transmission? unidirectional type, from ground to edge.

b) a second, presentation, during which the on-board equipment communicates the user's identification data while the ground-based equipment determines the class of the vehicle for the purpose of applying the toll rate. In this phase, carried out in the areas indicated with AREA 2E (input) and AREA 2U (output), the correspondence between the data acquired via radio and those measured on the ground must be ensured: the connection? bidirectional and traffic? already? channeled.

c) a third, validation, during which the ground system authorizes the transit, based on the checks carried out on the data acquired in the previous phase and transfers the related identification data on board. In case of lack of authorization, the ground equipment enables the acquisition and storage of the frame containing the license plate of the vehicle concerned. This phase is carried out in the zones indicated with AREA 3E (entrance) and AREA 3U (exit).

The station shown in FIG. 3 is part of a closed system (ie in which the toll is collected by calculating the distance and by the fare class and each area is replicated in and out), however the same scheme? used for open systems (ie those in which there is one or more stations in which the toll is paid for a certain motorway section according to the section itself and the class of the vehicle). In particular, also in this case the same three phases described above are identified, corresponding to the three areas of approach, presentation and validation, however the whole transaction is performed in a single station, how will it be? explained more? in detail below.

In fig. 4 are shown schematically the units? that make up the ground equipment. In particular, the entry buoy 1 (BOA 1E) arranged in correspondence of AREA 1E and the exit buoy 1 (BOA 1U) arranged in correspondence of AREA 1U are represented. These buoys are physically arranged far from the relative station, so? an RS422 line is provided for data exchange with the station processor. Possibly one or two additional buoys (BOA 1S) are foreseen, which replicate the entry and / or exit buoy 1 in the vicinity? of the station. A monitor? also connected to the computer for control by an employee. The ground equipment also includes a group d? track processing, indicated with 20, arranged in correspondence with each track, and therefore provided at least twice, for the input track and the output track. This group 20 comprises a track processor, a unit? C.TV constituting a classification and unblocking system, a unit? logic, for the control of the buoys (LOGIC BOE CONTROLLERS), and a? unit? for communication between the track processor and the station processor. The input or output presentation and validation buoys (BOA 2, BOA 3), depending on the type of runway, of the runway sensors arranged in proximity to the processing unit 20, are connected to the processing unit 20. of the entry and exit buoys 2 and 3 and typically consisting of a pair of contiguous optical barriers and a presence detection loop, and a camera with the respective SART processor, for the detection of license plates, how will it be? explained more? afterwards.

All buoys are equipped with very directional and small size antennas, typically operating between 5 and 11 GHz.

The automatic toll collection system according to the invention operates as described below with reference to the block diagrams of figs. 5-9.

In particular, in fig. 5? shown the block diagram relating to the operations performed by the on-board equipment during the approach phase for both closed system (and relative to both entry and exit) and open system. In detail, the BOA 1 emits its own life signal in a continuous cycle, containing a variable text to be recorded on the on-board equipment. The on-board equipment, previously in the listening state, is activated when the car enters AREA 1E or 1U and receives the buoy life signal. Failure to receive the ticket does not qualify for transit on the dedicated slopes. The reception of the life signal instead causes the start of the self-test sequence of the complex consisting of the on-board equipment and the inserted card. Initially, the correct insertion of the card in the reader is checked, with possible signaling in the event of a negative result, then the self-test sequence continues, to verify the capacity? reading / writing, any impediments to the use of the card and non-corruption of the recorded data. Then the result of the test is signaled through the display and / or an acoustic signal and eventually, in case of positive result, the message of the buoy is examined and it is signaled to the user.

In fig. 6? shown the block diagram relating to the operations performed by the ground equipment during the incoming presentation phase. At the beginning of this phase, the ground equipment? waiting for the detection of the passage of a vehicle by the sensors arranged in AREA 2. As soon as a vehicle is detected, the buoy emits a cyclic code which has the function of interrogation for the vehicle. The on-board equipment responds by providing its card code pi? the cyclic code assigned to it also stores this cyclic code and a marking on the card to indicate the lock condition. There? does it mean that the card cannot? be extracted until the end of the writing of the card itself in the validation phase. Furthermore, the on-board equipment stores in its non-volatile memory (memory 8 of fig. 2) the code of the card to avoid exchanges of the card itself between the entry and exit stations. explained later. The units who manage the buoy, which after the issuance of the cyclical code yes? awaiting the data supplied by the board, upon receipt of such data they provide for the combination of the cyclic code and the card code and for the transfer of such data to the track processor SCP. If the data is not received, this fact is reported to the SCP and the interview is concluded. The buoy then continues with the query of the next user using the following number of the cyclic code. The SCP, after receiving the data from the buoy, performs the formal checks on the card, verifies the belonging of the code received to black lists and admissibility fields. and also classify the vehicle.

In fig. 7? shown the block diagram of the entry validation phase (and exit, as will be seen later). At the beginning of this phase, the ground equipment? waiting for the detection of the passage of a vehicle by the sensors arranged in AREA 3. As soon as a vehicle is detected, if the transit is not in violation (for example due to the absence of on-board equipment or the card, or lack of authorization of the latter or other transit anomalies) and the card code is acceptable, the buoy sends the message for the expected vehicle, in this case containing the data relating to the entrance to the motorway, such as the station code, the date and the time, the class detected, membership in the black list and membership in the fields of eligibility? as well? the cyclic code to which the data refer. This data can then be stored on the card. Subsequently, the buoy goes into a state of awaiting receipt of a return confirmation from the vehicle. The confirmation of correct reception and belonging of the data (cyclic code equal to that received during the presentation phase) returning from the on-board equipment must be received by the track system before the vehicle leaves the track control sensors. Otherwise, the track processor activates the detection of the plate by transferring at the same time the value of a counter provided in the BOA 3E, and memorizing the progressive number of transits, towards the processor responsible for the acquisition of the photographs. The license plate detection is also activated when a violation transit is detected, the card has an unacceptable code or? there is a non-recoverable error in the trackside data exchange. The receipt of the confirmation or the acquisition of the license plate in case of transit in violation or in case of non-confirmation causes the closure of the operations relating to the transit.

At the end of the writing of the data on the card, the on-board equipment finally deletes the marking on the card, which then can? be extracted from the player if desired.

As for the exit phases of a closed motorway system, these are still divided into an approach phase, the same as the one already? described with reference to fig. 5, a presentation stage, which will come? now described with reference to fig. 8, and a validation step, similar to that described with reference to fig. 7.

The outgoing presentation phase? very similar to the one at the entrance. Consequently, at the beginning of this phase, the ground equipment? waiting for the detection of the passage of a vehicle by the sensors arranged in AREA 2U. As soon as a vehicle is detected. the buoy emits the cyclic code. The on-board equipment responds by providing its card code pi? the cyclic code assigned to him as well as? the other data stored at the entrance to the motorway, it also stores this cyclical code and a marking on the card to indicate the lockout condition. The units who manage the buoy, which after the issuance of the cyclical code yes? awaiting the data supplied by the board, upon receipt of such data, they transfer them to the track processor SCP. If the data is not received, this fact is reported to the SCP and the interview is concluded. Then the buoy continues with the query of the next user using the following number of the cyclic code. Does the SCP carry out the formal checks on the card, verify the belonging of the code received to black lists and admissibility fields? as well? the consistency of the data with the entry data (in particular with regard to timetables, entry and exit stations and the vehicle class) and also calculates the toll according to the class and distance traveled.

At the beginning of the validation phase (see again Fig. 7) the earthing device? waiting for the detection of the passage of a vehicle by the sensors arranged in AREA 3. As soon as a vehicle is detected. the buoy sends the interrogation message for the expected vehicle. containing the exit data relating to the toll payment, such as the amount of the toll, the exit station code, the exit lane code, the exit date and time, the class detected at the exit, membership of the blacklist and membership in eligibility fields. These data are sent to the on-board equipment which stores them, possibly deducting the amount of the toll from the existing ceiling and then sending a confirmation to the buoy. The receipt by the track-side of this confirmation concludes the transaction. Even on the way out, communication anomalies actively cause license plate detection.

Finally, at the end of the writing of the data on the card, the on-board equipment deletes the marking on the card, which then can? be extracted from the reader, as well as? to delete the card number stored in the memory of the on-board equipment, which then can? carry out subsequent transactions even with different cards.

In the case of open systems, the structure of the toll station? similar to that shown in fig. 3, with the difference that the stations have no entrance and exit areas, but only exit areas 1, 2, 3 for vehicles traveling in both directions, and the logical phases of each transaction substantially correspond to those described for systems closed and consist of an approach phase, equal to that described with reference to fig. 5, a presentation step, the same as that described with reference to fig. 6 and a validation step equal to that for the output in closed systems described with reference to fig. 7. The main differences are: the vehicle directly encounters the exit system; in the presentation phase the input data are not sent from board to shore; the toll? determined based on the vehicle class only.

Conveniently, according to the invention, all the conversations between the on-board equipment and the track-side equipment provide for the possibility? to repeat the messages at least a second time in the event of an error.

As can be seen from the previous description, the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects. Indeed ? A system has been created capable of performing dynamic toll collection and in particular capable of automatically acquiring data relating to entry and exit for the definition of the route, to identify the physical characteristics of the vehicle and the attribution of the tariff class, to recognize the user and to verify the inclusion in lists of eligibility? and to register the transaction, by deducting the relative amount from the card, or by making a direct debit or through affiliated entities or on the banking circuits, in a known way.

The system ? compatible with toll collection systems in place, both manual and automatic, and works with both open and closed motorways,? able to provide a complete service, thanks to the possibility? to inform the user of the presence of enabled doors and authorize him to transit.

Furthermore, the system according to the invention? extremely reliable thanks to the detection of the class both in entry and in exit, to the automatic comparison in exit and to the automatic registration of the license plate for each operation that is negative to the set of consistency checks carried out, as well as? to the validity check? of the cards both incoming and outgoing.

The invention thus conceived? susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent ones.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS 1. Automatic toll collection system for urban and extra-urban motorways, for crossing bridges and tunnels and for accessing urban areas and car parks, characterized by the fact that it includes an on-board equipment, which can be mounted on board a vehicle for the trans-transmission of messages, the management and storage of transactions, interaction with the user and sending messages to the user, a removable personal card, designed to activate the on-board equipment, identify the user and store transactions payment systems, and a track-side equipment designed to ensure the connection with the on-board equipment for the exchange of data and messages, to detect physical parameters relating to the vehicle, to perform the processing of the data and parameters provided by said on-board equipment and detected by the ground equipment itself as well as? to transmit and receive messages in connection with central data processing systems. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said on-board equipment comprises a unit? transceiver, connected to an antenna, a unit? control unit equipped with its own memory, a reader for the card, a display of the messages generated by said unit? control and / or sent by said ground equipment and acoustic alarm means. 3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said card? equipped with its own microprocessor and electrically rewritable memory. 4. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said card has magnetic tracks for reading by said on-board equipment and for reading by usual station equipment. 5. System according to one or more? of the previous claims, with a plurality? of tolling stations, characterized in that each tolling station includes at least a first approach area, a second presentation area and a third validation area. 6. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said approach area comprises a radioelectric buoy equipped with its own antenna for transmitting messages of the circular type. 7. system according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said areas of presentation and navigation each comprise its own radioelectric buoy equipped with an antenna for the exchange of data and messages with the on-board equipment as well as its own radioelectric buoy. sensors for detecting the presence and movement of a vehicle and its classification. 8. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sensors comprise a pair of contiguous optical barriers and a presence detection loop. 9. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said validation area comprises a video camera for acquiring the vehicle license plate. 10. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ground equipment comprises a runway processor associated with said presentation and validation areas and connected to said radioelectric buoys of the presentation and validation areas, to said sensors and to said camera, said runway processor being connected via local network to a central station computer connected to said radioelectric buoy of the approach area. 11. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said radioelectric buoy of the presentation area comprises a counter for the generation of cyclic codes, sent via said antenna to said on-board equipment and said radioelectric buoy of the validation area comprises a counter for the generation of a progressive number of transits. 12. Procedure for automatic toll collection for urban and extra-urban motorways, for crossing bridges and tunnels and for accessing urban areas and car parks, in a system according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact of including an approach phase for communicating the availability? of the service and the activation of the on-board equipment, a presentation phase for the acquisition of user identification data and the determination of the vehicle class, and a validation phase for the authorization to transit and the possible acquisition of the license plate. 13. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said approach phase comprises the transmission of a life signal by a radioelectric buoy, the activation of the on-board equipment upon receipt of said life signal, the execution of self-diagnosis and functionality checks? of the card by said on-board equipment and the signaling of messages on said on-board equipment relating to the result of said checks and / or sent by the track-side equipment. 14. Procedure according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said input presentation step in closed-type systems and for open-type systems comprises the detection of a motor vehicle by sensors, the emission of a cyclic code by a radioelectric buoy, the storage on the card of a block mark, the storage of the card code and the cyclic code in a memory of the on-board equipment, the transmission of the card data and the cyclic code to the radioelectric buoy and to a track processor, '' execution of formal checks on the card and the classification of the vehicle. 15. Procedure according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said entry validation phase of closed-type motorway systems comprises the detection of the vehicle by sensors, the request for the cyclic code stored by the on-board equipment during the entry presentation phase and the card code, the execution of formal checks on such data, the transmission to the on-board equipment of the data relating to the entrance to the motorway, the transmission of confirmation of receipt by the on-board equipment and possibly the detection of the license plate in case of detection of anomalies in transit and in ground-to-board transmissions. 16. Procedure according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said phase of presentation at the exit of closed motorway systems comprises the detection of a motor vehicle by sensors, the emission of a cyclic code by a radioelectric buoy, the memorization on the card of a marking the transmission of the card data, the cyclic code and the previously stored input data to the radioelectric buoy and to a runway processor, the execution of formal checks on the card and on the data received and the calculation of the toll. 17. Procedure according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said phase of validation at the exit of closed-type motorway systems and in open-type motorway systems comprises the detection of the vehicle by sensors, the request for the cyclic code stored by the on-board equipment during phase of presentation of the exit and of the card code, the execution of formal checks on such data, the transmission to the on-board equipment of the data relating to the exit from the motorway to the payment of the toll, the transmission of confirmation of receipt by the on-board equipment and possibly the detection of the plate in case of detection of anomalies in transit and / or in ground-to-board transmissions. 18. Procedure according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said ground-on-board data exchange phase also includes the sending from ground to on-board of traffic and road conditions messages. 19. Automatic toll collection system for urban and extra-urban motorways, for crossing bridges and tunnels and for accessing urban areas and car parks, characterized by the fact that it includes one or more? of the characteristics described and / or illustrated.