JP2005056091A - Toll pre-adjustment system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toll pre-adjustment system realizing relaxation of a traffic jam and improvement of convenience. <P>SOLUTION: A user accepts a passing ticket from a passing ticket issuing machine 1 in an expressway entrance as heretofore. On one's way to go to a destination, the user makes a toll adjustment machine 2 read the passing ticket and inputs the destination to adjust a toll, or inputs the destination and a passing ticket ID recorded in the passing ticket from a mobile terminal 3 to perform adjustment on the basis of the Web. When inputting the destination, the user simultaneously inputs a license number of one's own vehicle, and the system transmits it to a tollgate of the destination (an exit) as the already adjusted vehicle license number. In the exit tollgate, collation with a license number of a passing vehicle is performed by a passage propriety decision terminal 5. When the vehicle is an already adjusted vehicle, a gate is opened, and the vehicle is made to pass as it is. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toll advance settlement system for payment of tolls on toll roads such as expressways.

  Many toll roads, such as expressways, are not a big problem because they only receive passports at the entrance, but at the exit, it is time-consuming to pass the passport / receipt, pay the toll, and cause congestion. ing.

  Therefore, in recent years, an ETC system has been put into practical use that enables wireless communication between an in-vehicle device having a wireless communication function and a communication device provided at a gate, and allows a user to collect a toll without stopping at a toll gate. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). However, the ETC system is not widely used in ordinary vehicles because the in-vehicle device is expensive and the procedure for attaching the in-vehicle device and the credit card is complicated. Some toll gates with dedicated ETC lanes that are less frequently used than existing spaces are more congested.

As an example of conventional technology, when a vehicle that does not require payment (a vehicle that has registered for prepaid or postpaid) reaches the toll gate, it is passed to the toll collector with a registration confirmation light, allowing traffic congestion to be reduced and the burden on the tolerant to be reduced. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). In addition, a method is described in which the vehicle number is checked at the entrance and exit of the toll road, and the charge corresponding to the section is automatically withdrawn from the bank account, thereby saving time at the toll gate (for example, Patent Document 3). reference). In addition, when a mobile terminal is associated with a vehicle number and the vehicle passes through a toll gate, a confirmation email is sent to the user by e-mail, and a toll is collected from the designated billing party when the user notifies the user of the approval. (See, for example, Patent Document 4). Further, a system for associating the vehicle identification information with the identification information of the mobile communication means to specify the billing destination of the passing vehicle and the passing fee and charging the owner of the mobile communication means for the fee according to the passing of the vehicle (See, for example, Patent Document 5). In addition, there is a system for automating the entrance and exit of a toll road toll gate by using an IC card (see, for example, Patent Document 6).
Japanese Patent No. 2846128 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-134218 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-54218 JP 2002-245135 A JP 2002-74435 A JP-A-4-160692

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 2 requires an attendant at the toll booth, and the user can use it only with a vehicle that has previously applied for a vehicle number and a billing address. Further, the invention described in Patent Document 3 can be used only for the previously registered vehicle, and may be automatically withdrawn from the account even if the user does not intend. Also, the payment method cannot be changed every time it is used, and it is difficult to issue an immediate receipt. The invention described in Patent Document 4 is based on the premise that the user has a portable terminal. In addition, since the user is in the form of post-approval (requested after receiving notification of consent from the user after passing the toll gate), it is necessary to deal with the user who has not paid the fee. The invention described in Patent Document 5 requires that the vehicle and the mobile phone (payment destination) be associated in advance, or that the registration procedure be performed in advance, and that only the registered mobile phone and vehicle pair be used. Not available. In the invention described in Patent Document 6, it is necessary to issue / acquire an IC card in advance and always carry the IC card when using the expressway.

  Therefore, a system that can be used easily without requiring special preparation and procedures in advance is desired even for users who do not normally use expressways.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and for a user who does not have a dedicated in-vehicle device, providing a mechanism that can be paid in advance by providing a mechanism that causes traffic congestion at the toll gate The purpose is to provide a toll fee advanced settlement system that eliminates traffic, reduces traffic congestion and improves convenience.

  Another object of the present invention is to realize a mechanism that allows collection of charges by an IT terminal without requiring prior procedures such as application for use or application for withdrawal.

  In addition, since the present invention takes the form of pre-payment by the user, the payment action is clear, the payment method can also be a settlement method according to the spot, The purpose is to issue a receipt.

  In addition to the mobile phone, the present invention can be used even by users who do not have a mobile phone by installing a checkout terminal installed in a parking area or the like, and only prepaid vehicles pass through the toll booth. The purpose is not to respond to the person.

  In order to achieve such an object, the invention described in claim 1 is provided in a parking area and photographs a payment terminal where a user pays a toll from an entry location to an entry location, and a user's vehicle. A toll fee advance settlement having a number acquisition device for extracting the vehicle number of the vehicle using image processing, a gate opening / closing device for restricting vehicle traffic by an opening / closing bar, and a passage permission determination terminal arranged at the entry point A user information input means for entering the entry location and vehicle number from the payment terminal; a payment terminal for calculating and displaying the toll and collecting the toll; and a settlement terminal However, when the toll is collected, the vehicle number transmitting means for transmitting the input vehicle number to the passage permission determination terminal and the number acquisition device shoot the vehicle, The number acquisition means for extracting the vehicle number using the logic and transmitting it to the passability determination terminal, and the vehicle number registration means for registering the vehicle number received from the checkout terminal by the passability determination terminal as the adjusted vehicle number data And a vehicle number determination means for determining that the vehicle has been settled when there is a vehicle number received from the number acquisition device by searching the plurality of registered vehicle number data registered by the passability determination terminal. The access permission terminal sends a request to open / close the bar to the gate opening / closing device and deletes the vehicle number from the adjusted vehicle number data, and the gate opening / closing device opens / closes according to the received release instruction. Gate opening / closing means for opening and closing the bar.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a mobile terminal used by a user, a Web reception server that communicates with the mobile terminal, a user's vehicle is photographed, and a vehicle number of the vehicle is extracted using image processing. A toll fee advance settlement system having an acquisition device, a gate opening / closing device that restricts vehicle traffic using an opening / closing bar, and a passage permission determination terminal arranged at a place of participation, where a place of entry and a vehicle number are The user information input means that is input, the Web reception server calculates the toll from the entry location to the entry location, displays it on the mobile terminal, and pays online, and the Web reception server After the completion, the vehicle number transmitting means for transmitting the input vehicle number to the passability determination terminal and the number acquisition device capture the vehicle and use the image processing. Vehicle number registration means for extracting the vehicle number and transmitting the vehicle number received from the Web reception server as the adjusted vehicle number data by the number acquisition means for extracting the vehicle number and transmitting it to the passage permission determination terminal; A vehicle number determination means for determining whether the vehicle has been settled when there is a vehicle number received from the number acquisition device and the vehicle number determination means that the passage permission determination terminal searches from the plurality of registered vehicle number data registered, and The availability terminal sends a request for opening the opening / closing bar to the gate opening / closing device, and the opening instruction requesting means for deleting the vehicle number from the adjusted vehicle number data, and the gate opening / closing device sets the opening / closing bar according to the received opening instruction. Gate opening / closing means for opening and closing.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the touch panel type multimedia terminal according to claim 1, wherein the checkout terminal is installed in an information facility in a service area and can display and search road traffic information. To do.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the toll collecting means is any one of cash, prepaid card, and credit card settlement as a payment method.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an entry location display means for the entrance terminal to read the entrance information from the pass ticket including the entrance information for specifying the entrance location and to display the entrance location. It is characterized by that.

  The invention described in claim 6 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the online payment means is a payment means used in electronic money, a credit card, and various mobile commerce.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the ID input transmitting means for inputting and transmitting the ID of the pass ticket including the entrance information for specifying the entrance location from the portable terminal, and the Web reception server are ID It further has an entry location name display means for searching for an entry location name corresponding to and displaying the entrance location name on the portable terminal.

  The first effect is that even users who do not have a dedicated on-board device due to advanced settlement will not be lined up with manned lanes that require time to collect the toll. It is possible to pass through and convenience is improved.

  The second effect is that users can easily use without prior application, so it is expected to spread to users who do not use the expressway so much, and as a result, shift from manned lanes to unmanned lanes at the toll gate The unmanned lane can be expanded. Currently, by setting up ETC lanes that are not frequently used in limited toll booths, traffic congestion occurs in other manned lanes, and if the traffic exceeds the toll plaza, ETC vehicles will also be involved in traffic jams. Although this is happening, it is effective in solving this problem.

  The third effect is that the user can obtain a receipt on the spot, unlike the current ETC system, in the method using the settlement machine.

  The fourth effect is that when the payment method of the user is widened and advanced payment is performed, the vehicle can be settled in a state where the vehicle is parked in the parking area or the like. It can also be expected to prevent traffic accidents such as rear-end collisions.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The present invention realizes a new advanced settlement (preliminary settlement) system other than the toll gate in combination with the existing payment method for payment of traffic on expressways, etc., and reduces congestion at the toll gate It aims to improve the convenience of users.

  In recent years, wireless communication type fee collection systems (hereinafter referred to as ETC) have been realized on highways. Certainly, ETC is an epoch-making system for traffic jam countermeasures, and is a very convenient system for users who normally use expressways. However, for general users who do not use the expressway very often, there are many users who forego the introduction due to the need to install expensive on-board equipment and the time-consuming procedure, and during busy periods such as consecutive holidays There are frequent traffic jams at the toll booth.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to realize a system that allows a user who only occasionally uses such a highway to avoid waiting for traffic jams at a toll gate with a mechanism that can be easily used, and aims to alleviate traffic jams and improve convenience.

  Specifically, the user will be provided with advanced payment means using charge settlement terminals and mobile terminals installed in parking areas, etc., and the vehicles that have been advanced settlement will not be waiting in turn at crowded toll stations. Providing a mechanism that allows users to pass through unmanned lanes used in ETC without having an on-board device, reducing congestion at the toll booth by reducing manual exchanges, and improving user convenience Provide a business model that realizes

  In FIG. 1, the user receives a pass ticket from the pass ticket issuing machine 1 (existing technology) as it is at the entrance of the expressway. On the way to the destination, the user reads the pass ticket to the checkout machine 2 and inputs the destination and settles the fee, or inputs the pass ticket ID and the destination described in the pass ticket from the mobile terminal 3 on the web basis. Check out. When entering the destination, enter the number of your car at the same time, and the system sends it to the destination (exit) tollgate as the adjusted vehicle number. At the exit toll gate, the number of passing vehicles is checked at the passage permission determination terminal 5, and if the vehicle has been settled, the gate is opened and the vehicle passes as it is.

  In this embodiment, the entrance ticketing machine 1 used at the entrance is used as it is on the expressway, and the number acquisition system 7 and the gate opening / closing system 8 at the exit / tollgate are provided in the ETC facility. Since it can be used, it can be easily installed without replacing existing facilities. The reason is that the entrance gate is automated by a ticket-issuing machine, and there is no complicated exchange such as money transfer just by passing the ticket to the driver in one direction. This is because there is no problem even if the configuration and ticketing method used are used as they are.

  By not changing the current configuration, you can keep the current way of getting used to (receive the pass at the entrance, pass the pass at the exit / toll booth and pay the toll), and collect the current toll collection method ( Since it can be used in combination with manned counters and toll collection at ETC), vehicles that frequently use high speeds use ETC, and vehicles that use only occasionally use the advanced settlement of the present invention.・ Coexistence is possible. Moreover, introduction is easy without newly replacing the entrance equipment, and the capital investment cost can be reduced. In addition, by receiving the pass ticket at the entrance, there is no need to take measures against vehicle number recognition errors at the entrance.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a toll advance settlement system that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a toll ticket issuing machine 1 (existing technology), a settlement machine 2, a passability determination terminal 5, a settled vehicle number data 6, and number acquisition. It consists of a system 7 (existing technology) and a gate opening / closing system 8 (existing technology).

  The pass ticketing machine 1 issues a pass ticket to the user in order to specify an entrance location. Use what is currently used on expressways.

  The checkout machine 2 is installed in a parking area or the like as a place where the user can checkout other than the toll gate. At present, a touch panel type multimedia terminal capable of displaying / searching road traffic information and the like is installed in the information facility in the service area. The entrance information is read from the pass ticket inserted by the user, the charge to the destination specified by the user is calculated, and the toll is collected. It also has a function of transmitting the car number input by the user to the toll gate at the destination as the adjusted car number.

  The passage permission determination terminal 5 is arranged at each toll booth, and stores the adjusted vehicle number data 6 sent from the payment machine 2. In addition, a gate is checked so that the number of the passing vehicle read from the number acquisition system 7 (existing technology) and the adjusted vehicle number data 6 are checked, and if they match (do not pass), the corresponding vehicle passes (does not pass). It has a function of transmitting a signal to the switching system 8 (existing technology).

  The number acquisition system 7 (existing technology) is a system that captures the vehicle that has entered the toll gate and extracts the vehicle number by image processing. The gate opening / closing system 8 (existing technology) limits the number of vehicles passing by the opening / closing bar. Although these are to be performed, since these are already deployed at many toll booths with the introduction of the ETC system, the mechanism is used.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  First, the user receives a pass ticket at the entrance of the expressway with the conventional pass ticket issuing machine 1 (existing technology).

  Next, when it is desired to make a prior payment at a payment terminal installed in a parking area or the like, the user inserts a pass ticket into the payment machine 2 (step A1). The checkout machine 2 displays the entrance location (inter) name, and the user inputs the target entry location (inter) and the number of his / her car (step A2). The checkout machine 2 calculates and displays the fee from the entry point to the target entry point (step A3), and the user inputs the fee (step A4). As a payment method, means such as prepaid card and credit card settlement may be introduced in addition to cash. When the checkout machine 2 receives the correct fee, it transmits the vehicle number input in step A2 to the passability determination terminal 5 at the target entry location. When the passability determination terminal 5 receives the vehicle number from the payment machine 2 (step C1), the data is registered as the adjusted vehicle number data 6 (step C2).

  At the exit / toll booth, the vehicle entering is photographed and a passing vehicle number is obtained by image processing (step D1) (existing technology). The acquired passing vehicle number is transmitted to the passage permission determination terminal 5 (step D2). The passage permission determination terminal 5 that has received the passing vehicle number searches the registered vehicle number data 6 for the received vehicle number (step C4), and if there is a corresponding number, the vehicle that has entered has been settled. And a request for releasing the bar is sent to the gate opening / closing system 8 (existing technology) (step C5), and the passing vehicle number is deleted from the adjusted vehicle number data 6 (step C6). In the gate opening / closing system 8 (existing technology), the gate opening / closing instruction is received and the bar is opened / closed (step E1), and the vehicle that has been pre-paid can pass through without stopping at the gate.

  Next, the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment of the settlement machine 2 in that a user performs a web-based advance settlement using the mobile terminal 3 and transmits a settlement vehicle number.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the web reception server 4 uses a mobile terminal 3 to provide a web-based settlement means from a user. The user inputs the pass ticket ID, destination and vehicle number printed on the pass ticket on a web basis, and the payment means collects the fee by carrying out the payment means using an existing mobile phone, and the paid vehicle number It has a function to transmit to the toll gate at the destination. In addition to the function of the first embodiment, the passability determination terminal 5 has a function of storing the adjusted vehicle number data 6 sent from the Web reception server 4.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As in the first embodiment, first, the user receives a pass ticket from the pass ticket issuing machine 1 as usual at the entrance of the expressway.

  In the case of the advance settlement using the Web, the user accesses the dedicated Web site with the mobile terminal 3 such as a mobile phone and inputs the pass ticket ID printed on the pass ticket surface (step B1). The Web reception server 4 searches for an entrance location (inter) name corresponding to the input pass ticket ID and displays it on the Web browser of the mobile terminal 3. The user inputs the destination place (inter) and the number of his / her car (step B2). The Web reception server 4 calculates the fee from the entry location to the target entry location and displays it on the Web browser of the mobile terminal 3 (Step B3), and the user selects the desired online payment method and makes payment online (Step B3). B4). The online payment means uses payment means used in various mobile commerce such as electronic money and credit cards. When the settlement is completed without any problem, the Web reception server 4 transmits the vehicle number input in step B2 to the passability determination terminal 5 at the target entry location. When the passability determination terminal 5 receives the vehicle number from the Web reception server 4 (step C1), the data is registered as the adjusted vehicle number data 6 (step C2).

  The operation of the exit / toll booth is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the vehicle that has been prepaid can pass through without stopping at the gate.

  In the second embodiment, the user can perform advance payment even when the user does not stop at the parking area or the like. In addition, when you come to the toll booth to make a normal payment, you can be assumed to be involved in a traffic jam at the toll booth and immediately change the payment to advance settlement.

Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described.
In the first and second embodiments, a model is assumed in which a toll is received when entering and a fee is paid according to the section / distance when entering, but the present invention is also applicable to a model such as a uniform toll section that does not receive a toll. it can. The configuration in this case is the same as in Examples 1 and 2 except that there is no pass ticketing machine 1, and the operation is required to specify the name of the place of entry by reading the pass ticket (or ID input) in steps A1 and B1. Absent. The operation starts from the input of the destination (the toll gate) and the vehicle number by the user in steps A2 and B2, and the subsequent operations are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the toll advance adjustment system which is embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the toll fee advanced settlement system which is embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Passage ticket vending machine 2 Settlement machine 3 Mobile terminal 4 Web reception server 5 Passability judgment terminal 6 Checked vehicle number data 7 Number acquisition system 8 Gate opening / closing system

Claims (7)

A checkout terminal installed in the parking area, where the user pays for the toll from the entry point to the entry point,
A number acquisition device that captures the vehicle of the user and extracts the vehicle number of the vehicle using image processing;
A gate opening and closing device for restricting the passage of the vehicle by an opening and closing bar;
A toll-advance settlement system having a to-be-permitted determination terminal deployed at the place of participation,
User information input means for inputting the entry location and the vehicle number from the payment terminal;
The payment terminal calculates and displays the toll, and collects toll collection means for collecting the toll;
When the payment terminal receives the toll, vehicle number transmitting means for transmitting the input vehicle number to the to-be-to-passage determination terminal;
The number acquisition device is configured to capture the vehicle, extract the number of the vehicle using image processing, and transmit the number to the passage determination terminal;
Vehicle number registration means for registering the vehicle number received from the payment terminal as the adjusted vehicle number data by the passability determination terminal,
A vehicle number determination in which the passage permission determination terminal determines that the vehicle has been settled when the vehicle number received from the number acquisition device is retrieved from a plurality of registered vehicle number data registered. Means,
The passage permission terminal sends a request for opening the opening / closing bar to the gate opening / closing device, and an opening instruction requesting means for deleting the vehicle number from the adjusted vehicle number data;
Gate opening and closing means for opening and closing the opening and closing bar in accordance with the release instruction received by the gate opening and closing device,
A toll advance settlement system characterized by having a toll. A mobile device used by the user,
A web reception server for communicating with the portable terminal;
A number acquisition device that captures the vehicle of the user and extracts the vehicle number of the vehicle using image processing;
A gate opening and closing device for restricting the passage of the vehicle by an opening and closing bar;
A toll-advance settlement system having a to-be-permitted terminal arranged at a place of participation,
User information input means for inputting the appearance location and the vehicle number from the mobile terminal;
An online payment means for the web reception server to calculate a toll from an entry location to the entry location, display the toll on the mobile terminal, and pay online;
Vehicle number transmitting means for transmitting the inputted vehicle number to the passability determining terminal after the settlement of the web reception server;
The number acquisition device is configured to capture the vehicle, extract the number of the vehicle using image processing, and transmit the number to the passage determination terminal;
Vehicle number registration means for registering the vehicle number received from the web reception server as the adjusted vehicle number data, the passage permission determination terminal;
A vehicle number determination in which the passage permission determination terminal determines that the vehicle has been settled when the vehicle number received from the number acquisition device is retrieved from a plurality of registered vehicle number data registered. Means,
The passage permission terminal sends a request for opening the opening / closing bar to the gate opening / closing device, and an opening instruction requesting means for deleting the vehicle number from the adjusted vehicle number data;
Gate opening and closing means for opening and closing the opening and closing bar in accordance with the release instruction received by the gate opening and closing device,
A toll advance settlement system characterized by having a toll.   2. The toll advance settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the settlement terminal is a touch panel type multimedia terminal installed in an information facility in a service area and capable of displaying / searching road traffic information.   2. The toll advance settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the toll collecting means is one of cash, prepaid card, and credit card settlement as a payment method. The payment terminal reads the admission information from a passing ticket including admission information for specifying the admission location, and displays an entry location display means for displaying the admission location,
The toll advance settlement system according to claim 1, further comprising:   3. The toll advance settlement system according to claim 2, wherein the online payment means is a payment means used in electronic money, a credit card, and various mobile commerce. ID input transmitting means for inputting and transmitting the ID of the pass ticket including the entrance information for specifying the entrance location from the mobile terminal;
The Web reception server searches for an entrance location name corresponding to the ID, and displays the entrance location name display means on the mobile terminal;
The toll advance settlement system according to claim 2, further comprising:

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