Communications: electrical – Vehicle detectors
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-31
2002-09-03
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Vehicle detectors
C340S928000, C340S008100, C406S002000, C221S211000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06445309
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to automated toll stations and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for dispensing and receiving products at a toll station.
2. Description of the Related Art
Millions of automobile drivers employ the highway and roadway systems of the United States every day. A portion of the United States highway and roadway system includes facilities such as toll roads, bridges and tunnels that are funded by tolls collected from vehicle occupants. The tolls for using such facilities are typically collected at toll stations immediately preceding or immediately following use of the facilities.
Historically, toll stations have resulted in significant traffic problems, in part, due to the delay caused by processing the payment of the tolls. In the past, automobiles were required to come to a complete stop in order to pay a toll, usually to a human recipient who was often required to make change for the driver. This and other problems related to vehicle throughput at toll stations have been generally recognized.
There have been various technology-based attempts to improve the throughput of toll stations by reducing the amount of time each automobile must spend at a toll station, or by eliminating the need for an automobile to slow down to pay a toll. Two such attempts, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,101,200 and 5,422,473 of Swett and Kamata, respectively.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,200, Swett discloses a toll paying system for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane. The toll paying system of Swett employs a detection means and a class-determining means to detect tag information and determine the class of vehicle passing through the toll lane. The system of Swett further includes a method for paying a toll by charging a toll fee to an account based on the tag information and the class of the vehicle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,473, Kamata discloses a vehicle security system and automatic roadway toll charging system. According to the system of Kamata, a non-contact type IC card and card reader unit are employed within a vehicle to transmit information to an external device or system. Further, an imaging section generates an image of the vehicle's license plate to detect unauthorized use of the IC card. The information transmitted between the card reader unit and the external device or system is used to automatically charge a toll fee.
These advancements may advantageously increase the throughput at toll stations, but they fail to address other significant problems.
A need therefore exists for a method and apparatus that addresses the deficiencies of prior systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally, according to one aspect of the invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing a product at a toll station. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that actively promotes the sale of products at a toll station while maintaining high throughput. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that enables consumers to return rented products at a toll station while maintaining high throughput.
In accordance with the present invention, a first method is disclosed for distributing a product at a toll station. The method includes receiving an account identifier to identify an account. The method further includes outputting an offer to distribute a product. The offer may include offer criteria such as price in the case of a sale, or rental period, rental fee and extra fees such as late fees in the case of a rental.
The method further includes detecting acceptance of the offer and dispensing the product. The method also includes processing a transaction based on the account identifier and the offer criteria.
A second method is disclosed for receiving a product at a toll station. The method includes receiving an account identifier that indicates an account. The method also includes detecting receipt of a product and determining a product identifier corresponding to the product. The method further includes determining whether there is an association between the product identifier and the account identifier. A transaction is then processed based on the account identifier and the product identifier.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the present invention, will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5101200 (1992-03-01), Swett
patent: 5204675 (1993-04-01), Sekine
patent: 5422473 (1995-06-01), Kamata
patent: 5482139 (1996-01-01), Rivalto
patent: 5590407 (1996-12-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 5637846 (1997-06-01), Boers et al.
patent: 5717374 (1998-02-01), Smith
patent: 5725124 (1998-03-01), Bustos et al.
patent: 5864831 (1999-01-01), Schuessler
patent: 5934439 (1999-08-01), Kanoh et al.
patent: 6073840 (2000-06-01), Marion
patent: 2317258 (1998-03-01), None
patent: 10091864 (1998-04-01), None
“Welcome to E-ZPass”, (http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/bandt/html/ezwelcom.htm), download date: Nov. 17, 1999.
“Drivers' Lament: Port Authority Holds Us Hostage”, The Record, Nov. 19, 1989, Opinion Section at p. O03.
“Help Commuters, Don't Hurt Them”, The Record, Nov. 22, 1989, Opinion Section at p. B06.
“For Release Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1993: Chemical Bank at AT&T Smart Cards Form Strategic Alliance”, AT&T, (http://www.att.com/press/1193/931117.blb.html), download date: Sep. 14, 1998.
“E-Z Pass Shouldn't Be So Hard to Get”, The New York Times, Mar. 27, 1997 Section A. at p. 28.
“Advanced Traveler Information System(ATIS), An Expansion of the SafeAuto Home Page” (page modified Apr. 18, 1997), Planthink Concepts, Inc., (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DColemereJr/traveler.html), download date: Sep. 15, 1998.
“Safe Auto—Tollbooths, An Expansion of the SafeAuto Home Page” (updated Feb. 7, 1998), Planthink Concepts, Inc., (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DColemereJr/tollboot.html), download date: Sep. 15, 1998.
“E-ZPass Contractor's Projects are Lagging”,ETTM on the Web, (http://www.ettm.com
ews
j-lagging.html), Mar. 5, 1998.
“Federal-Highway-Express Sked Federal Highway Express Toll”, AP Worldstream, May 15, 1998, Washington Section—general news.
Mark Barrett and Julie Ball, “Free-Standing Drug Stores Offer Shopper Greater Convenience: Trend of Pharmacies Built Away From Shopping Malls Here to Stay, Say Many From The Industry”, Asheville Citizen Times, Jun. 8, 1998, Local Section at p. A1.
Lauren Lawley, “Donatos Pizza, Great Steak Debut Freestanding Stores Both Will Put Concept in Place With Local Outlets”, Cincinnati Business Courier, Jul. 3, 1998 at p. 5.
“Toll Fees and Coupon Tickets”, Hanshin-Nishi Route, (http:/west.park.or.jp/hanshin-expressway/guide/passfee_e.html), download date: Oct. 13, 1998.
“Le Shuttle”, French Connections—Channel Crossing Information, (http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/general/chunnel.html), download date: Nov. 16, 1998.
Jorasch James A.
Krantz Jason
Packes, Jr. John M.
Walker Jay S.
Alderucci Dean P.
Pope Daryl
Walker Digital, LLC
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for distributing products to vehicle... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for distributing products to vehicle..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for distributing products to vehicle... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2903513