U.S. patent application number 15/599250 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for method and system for electronic toll payment.
This patent application is currently assigned to BANKPASS, INC. The applicant listed for this patent is BANCPASS, INC. Invention is credited to Glenn Deitiker, J. Chris George, Shannon Fuentes Swank.
Application Number | 20170255918 15/599250 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43606079 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170255918 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deitiker; Glenn ; et
al. |
September 7, 2017 |
Method and System for Electronic Toll Payment
Abstract
A system and method for making electronic payments for tolls,
parking and related transactions. A customer downloads an
application onto their personal electronic device and registers the
customer's vehicle and financial account information with a
provider. The application detects upcoming toll facilities and
notifies the customer. The customer can accept the payment of the
toll through the application whereupon the provider makes a payment
from the customer's designated account to the toll facility.
Inventors: |
Deitiker; Glenn; (Austin,
TX) ; George; J. Chris; (Round Rock, TX) ;
Swank; Shannon Fuentes; (Austin, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BANCPASS, INC |
Austin |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BANKPASS, INC
Austin
TX
|
Family ID: |
43606079 |
Appl. No.: |
15/599250 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12859113 |
Aug 18, 2010 |
9691061 |
|
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15599250 |
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61234872 |
Aug 18, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/26 20130101;
G07B 15/063 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/26 20060101
G06Q020/26; G07B 15/06 20060101 G07B015/06 |
Claims
1. A method for making payments, comprising: providing, by one or
more processors, an application to a customer for installation on a
personal electronic device; registering, by the one or more
processors, the customer's vehicle's license plate and financial
account information with a financial network, wherein the financial
network is communicatively connected to a vehicle license plate
detection device that is located within a toll facility; detecting,
through the vehicle license plate detection device, the customer's
vehicle's license plate at the toll facility; paying a toll charge
for the customer's use of the toll facility by debiting the
customer's financial account and paying the toll facility; and
notifying the customer through the application that the customer
has paid the toll charge.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial network is a
network providing services specifically for toll facilities and not
a cellular phone carrier.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the toll facility is a parking
facility.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration is performed
online by the customer.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer receives the
notification on the customer's personal electronic device.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein, at the time of registration or
thereafter, the customer designates a financial account for
processing the payment when utilizing the toll facility during
certain periods of time and designates another financial account
for processing the payment when utilizing the toll facility during
other periods.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein at such time as the customer
receives notification when approaching the toll facility, the
customer is provided with an option to refuse the payment.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein after receiving notification that
the toll charge has been paid, the customer is provided with an
option to dispute the payment.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein when the financial account is
closed or contains insufficient funds to make the payment, the
payment is made through another account designated by the
customer.
10. A method for making payments, comprising: providing an
application to a customer for installation on a personal electronic
device; registering the customer's vehicle and financial account;
detecting the customer's vehicle at such time as the customer
passes through a toll facility; after the customer passes through
the toll facility, notifying the customer through the application
of the toll charges for using the toll facility; receiving
instructions from the customer through the application to pay the
toll charges; and paying fees for the customer's use of the toll
facility by debiting the customer's financial account and paying
the toll facility.
11. The method of claim 1, further including registering a date on
which the paying a toll charge for the customer's use of the toll
facility by debiting the customer's financial account and paying
the toll facility commences and a date on which the paying a toll
charge for the customer's use of the toll facility by debiting the
customer's financial account and paying the toll facility
stops.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is configured so
that the customer may take a picture of the customer's license
plate for use by the toll facility for verification.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is configured to
display toll access locations and rates.
14. A method for making payments, comprising: providing, by one or
more processors, an application to customers for installation on a
personal electronic device; registering, by the one or more
processors, a customer's vehicle's license plate and financial
account; detecting the customer at a toll facility using the
personal electronic device's geolocation system; paying fees for
the customer's use of the toll facility by debiting the customer's
financial account and paying the toll facility; and notifying the
customer through the application that the customer has paid the
toll charge.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device
is not present in the vehicle while the vehicle passes through the
toll facility.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device
is not activated while the vehicle is passing through the toll
facility.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein the personal electronic device
is not present in the vehicle while the vehicle is passing through
the toll facility.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein the personal electronic device
is not activated while the vehicle is passing through the toll
facility.
19. A method for making payments, comprising: providing, by one or
more processors, an application to customers for installation on a
personal electronic device; providing, by one or more processors,
an application to a driver for installation on a personal
electronic device; registering, by the one or more processors, the
customer's financial account and the driver's financial account;
registering, by the one or more processors, the driver's vehicle's
license plate; detecting the driver at a toll facility using the
personal electronic device's geolocation system; debiting the
customer's financial account and paying the driver the amount of
the toll facility's fee; debiting the driver's financial account
and paying the toll facility the amount of the toll facility's fee.
paying fees for the driver's use of the toll facility by facility;
and notifying the customer through the application that the toll
facility's fee has been paid.
Description
PRIORITY STATEMENT UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 & 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.78
[0001] This Non-Provisional application is a continuation of U.S.
Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/859,113, filed Aug.
18, 2010 in the name of Glenn Deitiker, J. Chris George, and
Shannon Fuentes Swank entitled "Method and System for Electronic
Toll Payment," which claims priority based upon prior U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/234,872 filed Aug. 18,
2009 in the name of Glenn Deitiker, J. Chris George, Shannon
Fuentes Swank and Mark Swank entitled "Vehicle Transaction System
and Method," the disclosures of each of which are incorporated
herein in their entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Traditional systems offer little customer choice for method
of payment at unmanned toll locations. For toll facilities in
particular, open road tolling (ORT) systems process vehicles at
highway speeds with no opportunity to use a cash or coin machine
for payment. Traditional ORT systems use active or passive methods
for identifying customers including radio frequency transponders or
visual images of the vehicle license plate among others. Toll
systems traditionally use a stored value account for each customer
requiring an initial deposit to apply to future transactions.
Before the stored value account is fully depleted, it is
replenished from a customer's bank account, credit card or cash
payment at a service center. This is an inconvenient system at best
for infrequent users of a toll system. Users of multiple regional
toll systems may be required to open several accounts. There is a
need, therefore, for an improved method of electronic payment in
open road tolling and other similar environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An electronic payment system enables payment for
transactions at locations such as toll roads, parking structures
and drive-through service windows. The financial network system
provides a service allowing customers to register one or more
vehicles using a mutually accepted method of identification and to
make or confirm a payment through a personal electronic device.
[0004] The financial network system provides customers the ability
to choose the method of payment for vehicle transaction systems
either when unattended, electronic processing of transactions is
the only method available or when a choice of unattended or
attended transactions is available. The system does not require a
stored value account but one may be available.
[0005] In one embodiment of the invention, the customer downloads
an application from a provisioner for their personal electronic
device. The application provides a registration process for linking
financial accounts to the financial network tied to the customer's
account. The application accepts customer information and financial
account information and securely transmits to the financial
network. The customer may enter more than one account, such as a
credit card or bank account. The customer may enter license plate
information for several personally owned vehicles and associates
each with a financial account using the application. This vehicle
and account registration is sent to the financial network. The
customer drives toward a toll entry point and application on the
personal electronic device announces the approaching toll
authority. The customer accepts the impending toll through the
device using voice command or button press. The application
communicates the authorization to the financial network which
settles payment with the toll system.
[0006] In another embodiment, the customer registers a credit card,
bank account and/or a stored value account with the financial
network. The customer uses the toll system and, for example, has
preselected the bank account to pay for tolls. The toll system
detects the license plate and requests payment from the financial
network after the toll occurs. The financial network sends the
request for payment authorization to the customer's personal
electronic device. The customer authorizes payment with the default
account, or authorizes payment through a separate account. The
financial network settles the transaction with the toll system and
charges customer's bank account for the toll.
[0007] In another embodiment, the customer has registered with the
financial network using the downloaded application. The customer
has a credit card and bank account registered on the financial
network. The customer rents a car and adds the car's license plate
to the application with an expiration date three days later. The
application notifies the financial network of the addition. The
customer uses a toll system and has preselected the bank account to
pay for tolls. The toll system detects the license plate for the
rental car and requests payment from the financial network the day
after the toll occurs which is after the rental car is returned.
The financial network sends the request for payment authorization
to the customer's personal electronic device. The application
notifies the user of the rental car period and that the transaction
occurred when the car was active with the application. The customer
authorizes payment with the default account which is the registered
bank account. The financial network settles the transaction with
the toll system and charges customer's bank account for the
toll.
[0008] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly certain aspects of
the present invention in order that the detailed description of the
invention that follows may be better understood. Additional
features and advantages of the invention will be described
hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily
utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or
processes for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing the payment process for a
customer in one embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The present invention is directed to improved methods and
systems for electronic toll payment. The configuration and use of
the presently preferred embodiments are discussed in detail below.
It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention
provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in
a wide variety of contexts other than traditional electronic toll
collection, such as parking structures and drive through service
windows. Accordingly, the specific embodiments discussed are merely
illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do
not limit the scope of the invention. In addition, the following
terms shall have the associated meaning when used herein:
[0012] "application" means a software, firmware or other
application capable of operating on a personal electronic
device;
[0013] "automatic clearing house" means an electronic financial
network for financial transactions used by the banking system;
[0014] "back-office system" means a system that processes and
clears electronic transactions at a central location;
[0015] "electronic tolling" means the use of electronic
identification to process vehicle transactions on a toll road,
parking structure or other vehicle service;
[0016] "financial account" means an account with a bank, credit
card or a stored value account registered to an account owner;
[0017] "financial network" means a service network providing
financial services applicable to vehicle transactions for one or
more toll facilities using one or more financial accounts;
[0018] "global positioning system" or "GPS" means a satellite
service provided to consumers to determine their location on the
earth with high accuracy;
[0019] "hardware token" means an electronic code to authenticate a
person or device stored on an electronic device such as a USB key
that is dedicated to storing the token;
[0020] "image transaction" means a vehicle transaction on a system
where the vehicle is identified from an image of the license
plate;
[0021] "IP address" means the Internet Protocol (IP) number used as
an electronic identifier in a networked system environment such as
a local network or the Internet;
[0022] "multimedia messaging service" or "MMS" means an electronic
message including multimedia including but now limited to images,
sounds and full motion video;
[0023] "open road tolling" or "ORT" means a system that allows
vehicle transactions to be processed at highway speeds without
customer interaction;
[0024] "personal electronic device" means a mobile phone, personal
digital assistant, two way pager, or other device capable of
receiving and transmitting electronic communications.
[0025] "short message service" or "SMS" means an electronic text
message to or from a personal electronic device such as a
phone;
[0026] "software token" means an electronic code to authenticate a
person or device stored in an electronic system such as a phone SIM
card, magnetic disk or flash drive that is not dedicated to storing
the token;
[0027] "payment card industry" or "PCI" means debit card, credit
card, gift cards or other point of sale devices;
[0028] "registered plate" means a license plate that a customer has
registered with a toll system;
[0029] "unregistered plate" means a license plate that a customer
has not registered with a toll system but acquired image based
transactions;
[0030] "vehicle identification number" or "VIN" means the unique
number issued by a manufacturer to each motor vehicle;
[0031] "voice control" means a feature on a personal electronic
device allowing the user to interact with voice commands for
hands-free usage; and
[0032] "X509" means a digital certificate standard for storing
identity information of a device or person that is issued and
authenticated by a Certificate Authority.
Registration Process
[0033] To register with the financial network, the consumer
installs an application on their personal electronic device which
becomes the primary means of payment authorization. The application
interfaces with electronic features of the device including but not
limited to GPS, camera, voice control and networking. During
installation, the application will register the owner of the device
using the primary identifier on the device such as a telephone
number, IP address or manufacturer's serial number. In some
embodiments, the personal electronic device will be provisioned
with a digital certificate to authenticate the owner of the account
during all electronic transactions from the device. All application
features will be registered to the appropriate device components
such as the camera, GPS and networking interface.
[0034] In order to process payments, the owner of the device is
required to register one or more payment methods to use within
their financial account. Method of payment can be bank account,
credit card or other electronic payment services. The registration
may occur through a secure network interface on the device, the
financial network's website, a call service center or directly
through a registered service provider for the financial network.
Once the account is created, the account can be updated as
necessary by the owner through commercially acceptable means. All
financial information is not stored on the device but is managed
through a secure back office system operated by the financial
network.
[0035] At any time after the account is created, the owner may
register one or more vehicles for vehicle transactions. Vehicles
may be registered using license plates, Vehicle Identification
Number or other electronic means such as passive or active radio
frequency transmitters. For additional confirmation of license
plates, the application allows the device owner to take a picture
of the license plate for comparison in electronic tolls if a camera
feature is available. The license plate image may be used for
verification of electronic charges made with the vehicle. The
application will allow an expiration date on each vehicle to allow
temporary access such as when a consumer has a short term need such
as a rental car.
Account Management
[0036] The application, when installed on the device, allows the
customer to securely interact with the financial network account
associated with the application. The customer may modify payment
options, activate and deactivate vehicles, authorize payments or
view their account history. The application may store account
identity information through a variety of means including account
passcodes, hardware or software generated tokens, an X509 or
similar digital certificate.
[0037] In one embodiment, the application receives information from
the financial network containing vehicle payment systems such as
toll facilities and parking systems and receive rates from each
system. These system locations and rates will be transmitted to the
device on demand or as an automatic update. The toll access
locations and rates may be reviewed directly through the
application.
[0038] The application can be used to set preferred financial
accounts such as credit card or bank account for each vehicle. The
application may also use time and day ranges to associate an
account with a vehicle. The application can add temporary vehicles
such as rental cars to the financial network account with an active
range of dates and times. The application can associate specific
toll systems to different financial accounts. The user can set the
application to automatically approve transactions for specific
combinations of vehicles, toll systems and date time ranges. The
application communicates directly to the financial network when
messages can be sent and acknowledged. The application will retain
customer preferences until the financial network can be accessed
and messages are sent and acknowledged. The application retains
customer preferences for direct interaction when a message cannot
be sent or received to the financial network.
Transaction Process
[0039] Transaction authorization and processing may take two forms,
an active process and a passive process. The active process
involves use of the geolocation system on the device which is
independent of the toll facility and the application. When the
device approaches a supported toll system, a "pre-authorization"
alert will be activated on the screen and an audible notification
will be made. The audible notification could include a verbal
announcement of the tolling site name and a request for payment
authorization. The audible notification could be a rhythmic sound
such as a ringtone to announce the request for payment
authorization. The authorization may be made by voice if voice
control is enabled on the device or through a button press or other
manual interaction with the personal electronic device housing the
application. The device will record the transaction with the toll
system and an authorization event if it is provided and submit the
information electronically to the financial network when
communications are available. Payment processing will be
coordinated directly between the tolling system and financial
network but the method of payment is determined through the
application.
[0040] The passive process involves tolling after-the-fact. This
may occur if the device was not present in the vehicle or was not
activated at the time the toll occurred. The toll system will
detect the vehicle though electronic or manual methods and match
the vehicle to the financial account using the vehicle license
plate, radio frequency transmitter, or other automatic or manual
vehicle identification system. The toll system will submit an
electronic request for authorization through the financial network
which communicates to the user through the application. The
application communicates the appropriate financial account based on
the time the transaction occurred and when the vehicle was active
on the account if configured on the application. The application
provides the consumer an electronic message, either audibly,
visually or both, with details of one or more transactions for
approval. The consumer may actively accept payment or dispute the
payment through the application. The application will update the
financial networks records through an electronic message.
Reconciliation Process
[0041] Once payment is approved, the account holder's financial
account will be charged for the toll transactions based on the
contracted rates. Financial reconciliation and settlement of the
transactions will be made between financial network and the toll
system. The application has the ability to compare transaction
times with vehicle activation periods so temporary access vehicles
are processed against the appropriate account. Electronic
transaction records will be made available to all parties in the
financial transaction including the consumer and the toll system.
The information may be made available through the application if
configured by the user.
[0042] Disputes may occur if the device owner decides to dispute
the transaction. The license plate image captured by the phone may
be used by the financial network to verify that the transaction
vehicle matches the registered account. This provides an additional
method of verification for payment. The financial network may
communicate the dispute resolution to the consumer through the
application or by other methods.
[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, the customer downloads
the invention from a provisioner for their personal electronic
device. The application provides a registration process for linking
financial accounts to the financial network tied to the customer's
account. The application accepts customer information and financial
account information and securely transmits to the financial
network. The customer enters more than one account such as a credit
card, bank account. The customer enters license plate information
for several personally owned vehicles and associates each with a
financial account using the application. The application submits
this vehicle and account registration to the financial network. The
customer drives toward a toll entry point and the personal
electronic device containing the application announces the
approaching toll authority. The customer accepts the impending toll
through the device using voice command or button press. The
application communicates the authorization to the financial network
which settles payment with the toll system.
[0044] In another embodiment, the customer has registered with the
financial network using the application. The customer may have a
credit card, bank account and/or a stored value account with the
toll system. The customer uses the toll system and, for example,
has preselected the bank account to pay for tolls. The toll system
detects the license plate and requests payment from the financial
network the day after the toll occurs. The financial network sends
the request for payment authorization to the customer's personal
electronic device. The customer authorizes payment with the default
account which is the registered bank account. The financial network
settles the transaction with the toll system and charges customer's
bank account for the toll.
[0045] In another embodiment, the customer registers with the
financial network using the application. The customer has, for
example, a credit card and bank account registered on the financial
network. The customer uses the toll system and has preselected the
bank account to pay for tolls. The toll system detects the license
plate and requests payment from the financial network the day after
the toll occurs. The financial network sends the request for
payment authorization to the customer's personal electronic device.
The customer responds by changing the method of payment to the
credit card account and authorizes payment for the transaction. The
financial network settles the transaction with the toll system and
charges customer's credit card for the toll.
[0046] In another embodiment, the customer has registered with the
financial network using the application. The customer has a credit
card and bank account registered on the financial network. The
customer rents a car and adds the car's license plate to
application with an expiration date 3 days later. The application
notifies the financial network of the addition. The customer uses a
toll system and has preselected the bank account to pay for tolls.
The toll system detects the license plate for the rental car and
requests payment from the financial network the day after the toll
occurs which is after the rental car is returned. The financial
network sends the request for payment authorization to the
application and the personal electronic device notifies the
customer. The application notifies the user of the rental car
period and that the transaction occurred when the car was active
with the application. The customer authorizes payment with the
default account which is the registered bank account. The financial
network settles the transaction with the toll system and charges
customer's bank account for the toll.
[0047] While the present system and method has been disclosed
according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, those of
ordinary skill in the art will understand that other embodiments
have also been enabled. Even though the foregoing discussion has
focused on particular embodiments, it is understood that other
configurations are contemplated. In particular, even though the
expressions "in one embodiment" or "in another embodiment" are used
herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment
possibilities and are not intended to limit the invention to those
particular embodiment configurations. These terms may reference the
same or different embodiments, and unless indicated otherwise, are
combinable into aggregate embodiments. The terms "a", "an" and
"the" mean "one or more" unless expressly specified otherwise. The
term "connected" means "communicatively connected" unless otherwise
defined.
[0048] When a single embodiment is described herein, it will be
readily apparent that more than one embodiment may be used in place
of a single embodiment. Similarly, where more than one embodiment
is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single
embodiment may be substituted for that one device.
[0049] In light of the wide variety of transportation payment
systems, the detailed embodiments are intended to be illustrative
only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the
invention. Rather, what is claimed as the invention is all such
modifications as may come within the spirit and scope of the
following claims and equivalents thereto.
[0050] None of the description in this specification should be read
as implying that any particular element, step or function is an
essential element which must be included in the claim scope. The
scope of the patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed
claims and their equivalents. Unless explicitly recited, other
aspects of the present invention as described in this specification
do not limit the scope of the claims.
* * * * *