Authorization system and authorization method

Details Authorization system and authorization method Authorization system and authorization method

2000-04-10

2001-10-16

Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Traffic control indicator

Combined

C340S933000, C340S937000, C340S870030, C340S426110, C340S571000, C340S573300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06304192

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an authorization system and an authorization method both employed in an electronic toll collection system which collects tolls through unmanned tollgates. More particularly, it relates to the system and method that allow an in-vehicle-device to authorize an access of an IC card to the in-vehicle-device when the IC card has been authorized but has a different code from the code proper to the in-vehicle-device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An electronic toll collecting system automatically collects tolls by wireless communications between tollgates and vehicles on toll roads. This system allows vehicles to pay a toll keeping on driving and thus free from stopping at a tollgate. Therefore, this system can save manpower and alleviate traffic jam.
An authorization system for authorizing a vehicle by an IC card is available as one of these electronic toll collecting systems. The following elements make up the authorization system overall:
an IC card;
an in-vehicle-device for reading the IC card and processing the information; and
an on-road apparatus mounted to a tollgate. The on-road apparatus automatically collects tolls by communicating data to a central processing unit (CPU) in an operation center.
When the IC card is inserted into a slot of the in-vehicle-device, the card and device try to authorize each other. When a code stored in the in-vehicle-device agrees with a code stored in the IC card, an authorization is established and the IC card authorizes the in-vehicle-device.
On the other hand, the in-vehicle-device can also authorize the IC card, and detects an agreement of the codes. The device detecting the code agreement communicates the on-road apparatus to authorize each other. When the respective codes agree with, they can authorize each other. Then the on-road apparatus starts communicating the CPU in the operation center about automatic toll collection.
When the code of IC card does not agree with the code of in-vehicle-device, although the in-vehicle-device and on-road apparatus authorize each other, the in-vehicle-device and the IC card cannot authorize each other.
As such, the conventional authorization system requires two-step authorizations i.e. the on-road apparatus authorizes the in-vehicle-device, and the device authorizes the IC card, and these three elements should store the code in common with them. Therefore, if one of the on-road apparatus, in-vehicle-device, or IC card has a code different from the common code, the authorization cannot be established among them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problem discussed above and aims to provide an authorization system and an authorization method through which an IC card having been authorized and yet storing a code different from the code proper to an in-vehicle-device can be authorized by the in-vehicle-device.
In a two-step authorization system, i.e. an on-road apparatus authorizes the in-vehicle-device, and the in-vehicle-device authorizes an IC card, the authorization system of the present invention operates as follows. When the in-vehicle-device receives an IC card having a code different from the code proper to the device, the device communicates the on-road apparatus. Then the apparatus rewrites a code of the in-vehicle-device to agree with a code of the IC card so that the in-vehicle-device identifies the IC card as an authorized one. Thus an authorization is established between the IC card and the in-vehicle device.


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