DETERMINING A TOLL AMOUNT
A system, method, and computer readable medium for determining a toll amount comprises determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location and determining the toll amount based on the capture rate.
This patent application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/803,933, which was filed on May 16, 2007. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/803,933 claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/801,372, which was filed on May 18, 2006. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/803,933 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/801,372 are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to toll fee tracking systems and methods and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to toll fee tracking systems and methods for automatic, non-contact, high-speed toll fee tracking and payment of vehicular tolls using automated vehicle identification (AVI) techniques such as Video, GPS, DSRC, RFID, etc.
HISTORY OF RELATED ARTThe 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.
Today, those individuals who frequently use toll roads are now prone to the purchase of toll fee tracking device. The toll fee tracking device allows the vehicular occupant to bypass the 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. The popularity of the toll fee tracking device has expanded to the point that the normal user of the toll fee tracking device can be frustrated by the lines at toll gates when the toll fee tracking device is not available. Unavailability of a toll fee tracking device can be for numerous reasons, not the least of which is the use of rental cars.
One of the major issues with rental cars or third party operated vehicles is maintaining and managing a large population of vehicles with the toll fee tracking devices attached to such vehicles. As a result, toll authorities have initiated a program utilizing Violation Enforcement Systems (VES) to capture toll usage from third party operated vehicles. The VES utilizes the video toll technology (VTOLLS). While capturing video tolls (VTOLLS) using VES helps to minimize violations, the VES system fails to improve the overall revenues of the toll authority. Using VES to capture toll usage from third party operated vehicles reduces the amount of lost revenue capture by toll authorities. However, Toll Authorities are still losing significant amount of revenues when VES don't capture a valid license plate string whether that be from weather conditions, visibility conditions, damaged license plates, unreadable licenses plates or a multitude of other reasons that prohibit the capturing of a valid license plate to therefore bill the toll violator. These toll violators include both 3rd party operated vehicles such as rental cars, but the majority of toll violators are local vehicle owners.
The toll fee tracking devices using RFID technology have a capture rate of around 90%-99% of the actual tolls and are an efficient means for capturing revenue for toll authorities. On the contrary, VES system capturing revenue for toll authority is much less effective. As a result, utilizing VES systems to capture toll usage from third party operated vehicles and local vehicles significantly reduce the toll authority revenue. The reason for the low efficiency rate in the capture of VTOLLS is due to several factors which may be, for example, dirt, grime, mud, snow, ice on license plates. Other factors may also aid to the low efficiency rate in the capture of VTOLLS such as, for example, damaged license plates.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and system for capturing a greater percentage of uncaptured tolls to improve the overall revenues of the toll authority.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention toll fee tracking system comprising a toll processing unit applying a multiplier to captured toll usage data. The above summary of the invention is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention.
In one embodiment, a method for determining a toll amount, comprises determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location and determining the toll amount based on the capture rate.
In another embodiment, a computer readable medium comprises instructions for: determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location, determining a multiplier and determining a toll amount based on the capture rate and the multiplier.
In a further embodiment, a system for determining a toll amount comprises a first entity that determines a capture rate of transports at each toll location, wherein the first entity is at least one of: a toll authority and a toll collection entity and a second entity that determines the toll amount based on the capture rate, wherein the second entity is at least one of: the toll authority and the toll rental entity.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer readable medium for improving the overall revenues of the toll authority. As an exemplary embodiment, assume 1000 unsubscribed users pass through gates of the toll authority per day. Out of the 1000 vehicle users, 90% of the 1000 users are actual cash payers at the toll authority while the remaining 10% of the 1000 users are violators. If the toll authority charges $1, than $900 would be paid by cash payers. If the capturing efficiency of the VES is 40%, then 40% of 100 (violators) would be captured by VES. Ultimately, the toll authority would receive $900 from the cash payers and an additional $40 collected from the violators. Thus, the remaining $60 is unaccounted for and is due to the poor video capture rate of the VES.
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Embodiments of the present invention utilize a multiplier model based upon a capture rate of the VES. As an example, a particular toll road such as, the newer George Bush Turnpike may have a higher capture rate (using video, for example) as compared to the older Dallas North Tollway. Thus, the present invention utilizes different multipliers based upon the capture rate of the various toll roads, toll plazas, toll gates or entire toll systems which may be based in part on the level of technology in the toll booth areas of the toll roads. Using the multipliers allows for a greater percentage of actual tolls to be collected and using different multipliers for different toll roads based upon the capture rate of the various toll roads establishes an element of inherent fairness in the charges applied. When a vehicle passes through a toll gate/lane of the toll authority, the VES captures the vehicle information and a toll processing unit applies a multiplier to each captured toll. The following table shows a system, method, and computer readable medium for capturing 100% of the actual tolls and a payout to a toll authority (TA) when a VES is used for toll usage capture:
The formula used to determine the multiplier is as follows:
Multiplier=1/(Toll Capture Rate %*1)
For example, if M=Multiplier for TOLLS and X=TOLL Capture rate %, then M=1/(X*1).
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The system, method, and computer readable medium as described in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may be used to assure that the toll authority captures vehicle tolls using the VES system. The method and system provides means for the toll authority to maximize revenue when leveraging VES collection models for capturing vehicle tolls.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining a toll amount comprises determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location and determining the toll amount based on the capture rate. The toll location includes at least one of: a specific toll lane, a toll gate, a toll plaza, a wireless toll collection system, a toll region, and a toll system in its entirety. As such, varying rates can be provided for utilization of a single lane all the way to the entire system thus allowing variable pricing based on location or type of toll property used. Further, a “range” of minimum and maximum charges could be applied based on the location and/or the type of toll property used.
The method also comprises determining a multiplier value based on the capture rate of the toll location, wherein the determining the multiplier occurs after the determining the capture rate, determining the multiplier value by dividing 1 by the capture rate, determining the multiplier value by a following calculation: 1/(capture rate %*1), and billing the toll amount, wherein the capture rate is at least one of: detecting an unauthorized transport, detecting a percentage of unauthorized transports, and detecting a number of unauthorized transports, wherein the capture rate is determined by at least one of: a toll authority, a third party entity, a toll rental entity, an electronic device and a human being, wherein the capture is determined by at least one of: a manual process, an automatic process, a semi-automatic process, a static process, and a dynamic process.
The following example shows the revenue loss which occurs when the system according to the present invention is not being used to capture vehicle tolls:
Capture Rate=40%.
1000 Cars pass through VES system.
$1 is captured per toll
40% capture rate
Toll Authority Revenue=0.4*1000*$1
Toll Authority Revenue=400*$1=$400
Now the same variables will be used in accordance with the present invention which enables the toll authority to capture 100% of the VTOLLS.
1000 Cars pass through VES tolling system
$1 is captured per toll
40% capture rate
Multiplier=2.5 (see table above for multiplier)
Toll Authority Revenue=0.4*1000*$1*2.5
Toll Authority Revenue=400*$1*2.5
Toll Authority Revenue=$400*2.5
Toll Authority Revenue=$1000
The formula for Total Toll Authority Revenue in the system according to the present invention is as follows:
TTAR=Total Toll Authority Revenue
X=Toll Capture Rate %
Y=Toll Gate Fee
Z=Actual Vehicles passing through Toll Gate
M=Multiplier for VTOLLS
TTAR=X*Y*Z*M
The formula for an individual Toll will be as follows:
ITR=Individual Toll Revenue
ITR=Y*M
For example in a Toll Authority where the Capture rate=40% (multiplier=2.5)
Toll Gate Fee=$1.00
ITR=$1.00*2.5
ITR=$2.50
In another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable medium comprises instructions for: determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location, determining a multiplier, and determining a toll amount based on the capture rate and the multiplier, wherein the multiplier is based on the capture rate, determining a revenue amount based on the capture rate, a number of the transports at the toll location, a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location, and the multiplier, determining a revenue amount based on a following calculation: the capture rate*a number of the transports at the toll location*a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location*the multiplier, determining a revenue amount based on a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location and the multiplier, determining a revenue amount based on a following calculation: a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location*the multiplier, altering the multiplier if the capture rate is altered, and billing the toll amount.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a system for determining a toll amount comprises a first entity that determines a capture rate of transports at a toll location, wherein the first entity is at least one of: a toll authority and a toll rental entity and a second entity that determines the toll amount based on the capture rate, wherein the second entity is at least one of: the toll authority and the toll rental entity. The toll amount is stored and/or the toll amount is billed by at least one of: the toll authority and the toll rental entity.
It should be realized that the embodiments of the present invention utilize a multiplier model based upon the video capture rate at various toll roads, toll gates, toll plazas or toll systems. As an example, a particular toll road such as, for example, the newer George Bush Turnpike may have a higher video capture rate compared to the older Dallas North Tollway. Thus, the present invention utilizes different multipliers based upon the video capture rate of the various toll roads. Using the multipliers allows for a greater percentage of actual tolls to be collected
It is thus believed that the operation and system of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and figures. While the method shown or described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method for determining a toll amount, comprising:
- determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location; and
- determining the toll amount based on the capture rate.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising determining a multiplier value based on the capture rate of the toll location.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the multiplier occurs after the determining the capture rate.
4. The method of claim 2 comprising determining the multiplier value by dividing 1 by the capture rate.
5. The method of claim 2 comprising determining the multiplier value by a following calculation: 1/(capture rate %*1).
6. The method of claim 1 comprising billing the toll amount.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture rate is at least one of:
- detecting an unauthorized transport;
- detecting a percentage of unauthorized transports; and
- detecting a number of unauthorized transports.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture rate is determined by at least one of:
- a toll authority;
- a third party entity;
- a toll rental entity;
- an electronic device; and
- a human being.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture is determined by at least one of:
- a manual process;
- an automatic process;
- a semi-automatic process;
- a static process; and
- a dynamic process.
10. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
- determining a capture rate of transports at a toll location;
- determining a multiplier; and
- determining a toll amount based on the capture rate and the multiplier.
11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the multiplier is based on the capture rate.
12. The computer readable medium of claim 10 comprising instructions for determining a revenue amount based on the capture rate, a number of the transports at the toll location, a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location, and the multiplier.
13. The computer readable medium of claim 10 comprising instructions for determining a revenue amount based on a following calculation: the capture rate*a number of the transports at the toll location*a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location*the multiplier.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 10 comprising instructions for determining a revenue amount based on a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location and the multiplier.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 10 comprising instructions for determining a revenue amount based on a following calculation: a cost per transport for utilizing the toll location*the multiplier.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 10 comprising instructions for altering the multiplier if the capture rate is altered.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 10 comprising instructions for billing the toll amount.
18. A system for determining a toll amount, comprising:
- a first entity that determines a capture rate of transports at a toll location, wherein the first entity is at least one of: a toll authority and a toll collection entity; and
- a second entity that determines the toll amount based on the capture rate, wherein the second entity is at least one of: the toll authority and the toll collection entity.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the toll amount is stored by at least one of: the toll authority and the toll collection entity.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the toll amount is billed by at least one of: the toll authority and the toll collection entity.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 11, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 2, 2009
Inventors: Benjamin P. Robinson (Plano, TX), Sarath K. Balachandran (Irving, TX)
Application Number: 12/268,680
International Classification: G06Q 99/00 (20060101);