Automatic toll processing apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for automatic collection of tolls from a vehicle moving along a roadway, comprising onboard toll processor means carried by the vehicle for processing of toll transactions, the onboard toll processor means comprising: memory means for storing a money-available signal representative of a monetary quantity available for debiting in a toll transaction at an upcoming first toll facility located at a first location, receiver means for receiving (i) a first toll-facility-identifier signal, said first toll-facility-identifier signal being a radiated electromagnetic signal generated at a first site proximate the roadway, the first site being spaced apart from an upcoming first toll facility location, said first toll-facility-identifier signal being representative of the location of the first toll facility, and (ii) a first toll-collect signal, generated at the first toll facility, instructing the onboard toll processor to debit a toll amount from said memory means, central processor means, including calculation means, coupled with said receiver means, and responsive to said first toll-facility-identifier signal, for calculating a first toll-due amount to be debited at the first toll facility, and debit means, coupled with said receiver means, and responsive to said first toll-collect signal, for modifying said money-available signal stored in said memory means to debit said calculated toll-due amount from said monetary quantity, and transmitter means, coupled to said debit means, for responding to said modification of said money-available signal by transmitting an acknowledgement signal indicating that the calculated toll amount has been debited from said monetary quantity.