Electronic license plate architecture

Claim 1

An electronic license plate system for use in an electronic vehicle communication system in which a plurality of remote traffic management stations communicate with the electronic license plate, comprising: a license plate portion, including visual identification information and an identification means for storing restricted information, the restricted information including at least one type of vehicle identification information, and wherein the restricted information cannot be altered by the remote stations or by the vehicle; information means for storing unrestricted information, wherein the unrestricted information can be altered by at least one of the remote stations or by the vehicle; communication means, operatively connected to the identification means and to the information means, for processing communications with the remote stations; antenna means for transmitting and receiving the communications with the remote stations; attachment means fixed to the vehicle for replaceably attaching the license plate portion to the vehicle, such that the license plate portion can be replaced without having to replace the information means.