Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090201169 | Real-Time Location Systems and Methods - A real-time location system for identifying and locating tagged items. The system may include an identification protocol that tracks in-network transponders and assigns dynamic in-network identification numbers to in-network transponders. The system includes a locator function that employs time-of-arrival analysis. Rather than attempt to synchronize the time base at each reader, the system and process eliminate the need to sync the readers and also eliminate the impact of differential receive delays in the respective readers. Both the transponder and a master reader transmit locate signals, which are measured at slave readers. The system relies on differences in time-of-arrival of the two signals at the respective slave readers to determine the likely location of the transponder. | 08-13-2009 |
20100085213 | HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE STATUS SIGNALING USING ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION INFRASTRUCTURE - An electronic toll collection system, reader, method and transponder for communicating occupancy status. The vehicle-mounted transponder includes a selection device that permits a user to select between a normal and high occupancy state. The transponder reports its occupancy status to a reader. If the electronic toll collection system processes a toll transaction and the transponder claims high occupancy status during the toll transaction, the fact that high occupancy status was claimed during the transaction is recorded in memory within the transponder for later enforcement and verification purposes. | 04-08-2010 |
20110304434 | MULTI-PROTOCOL ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM - A system and method for dynamically selecting a communication protocol in an electronic toll collection system. A first reader communicating under a primary communication protocol is connected to a roadway antenna. If a transponder of the primary protocol is detected within a predetermined duration, then the first reader maintains its access to the roadway antenna so that it may perform an electronic toll transaction with the detected transponder. If a transponder of the primary protocol is not detected within a predetermined duration, then the first reader will switch over access of the antenna to a second reader operating under a secondary protocol so that the second reader may perform an electronic toll transaction with a detected secondary protocol transponder. | 12-15-2011 |
20110307305 | MULTI-PROTOCOL ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM - A system and method for dynamically selecting a communication protocol in an electronic toll collection system. A reader includes two or more multiprotocol transceivers operating under the control of a processor, each transceiver having a dedicated antenna. The system uses a fixed frame duration. A first communications protocol is used in a first portion of the fixed frame duration. If a response signal is not detected within the first portion, then the system ceases using the first communication protocol and instead uses the second communications protocol for the remainder of the fixed frame duration. The fixed frame duration is shorter than the sum of the durations normally used by the first and second communications protocol to conduct electronic toll transaction communications. | 12-15-2011 |
20120154164 | ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION TRANSPONDER ORIENTATION DEVICE AND METHOD - An electronic toll collection transponder containing an orientation sensor for measuring the orientation of the transponder is described. The transponder measures its orientation and stores orientation data in memory. The transponder may report the stored orientation data as part of a response signal sent to the ETC system in reply to a trigger or polling signal. The transponder may assess whether it is correctly oriented based on a comparison of the orientation data to ranges or thresholds and may output an indicator of incorrect orientation or may disable communications with the ETC system during incorrect orientation. | 06-21-2012 |
20120169516 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRIGGERING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION - A system and method for triggering a vehicle inspection in a vehicle inspection bypass system. A handheld device transmits a signal containing the driver information in response to detecting an activation of an actuator on the handheld device. A vehicle mounted transponder detects the signal when the handheld device is in close proximity, and the driver information is stored in the transponder memory. Upon detecting an interrogation signal from a roadside reader, the transponder transmits a signal containing the driver information to the roadside reader. Based on the received driver information, a roadside controller determines whether a vehicle may bypass a vehicle inspection station. | 07-05-2012 |
20140132398 | METHODS FOR PROLONGING BATTERY LIFE IN TOLL TRANSPONDERS - A transponder, such as an electronic toll transponder, is configured to recognize when it is being subjected to consistent and repeated trigger signals over an extended period of time and, in response, the transponder enters a reduced-responsiveness state. In the reduced-responsiveness state, the transponder may only intermittently respond to detected trigger signals. The transponder may recognize when the repeated trigger signal situation has been resolved and then return to normal responsiveness. | 05-15-2014 |
20150278788 | ELETRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTION SYSTEM USING ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION TRANSPONDERS - An electronic commerce system to perform a non-toll payment transaction with an electronic toll collection transponder, the transponder being located in a vehicle, the transponder having a transponder memory storing payment information. The electronic commerce system includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal; and a handheld reader tethered to the POS terminal via a wired communication link. The handheld reader is movable to within close proximity of the transponder when the vehicle is adjacent to the POS terminal. When the handheld reader is in close proximity to the transponder, the handheld reader is to transmit a short-range RF signal that contains sales information, receive a signal that contains payment information from the transponder in response to transmitting the short-range RF signal, and send the signal containing the payment information to the POS terminal, via the wired communication link, for completing the non-toll payment transaction. | 10-01-2015 |