US5809142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for calculating a user account balance in a recognition system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-14
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A system and method in which a transponder (14) is operable to transmit an original user account balance to an interrogator (12), which in turn calculates a revised user account balance and transmits the revised user account balance to the transponder (14). In one embodiment of the invention, the transponder (14) is further operable to transmit a verification user account balance back to the interrogator (12), which then compares verification user account balance to the revised user account balance that was earlier calculated and stored in an interrogator memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Dwaine S. Hurta
- 👤 Francis B. Frazee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:02
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07B15/063; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/36; G06Q20/367; G06Q20/3676; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/0866; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/76; G01S13/765
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of calculating a revised user account balance in a recognition system comprising a transponder in wireless electrical communication with an interrogator, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a user account balance; b) receiving in said interrogator said user account balance; c) Calculating in said interrogator said revised user account balance, a factor in said calculation being said user account balance; d) Transmitting from said interrogator to said transponder said revised user account balance; and e) receiving in said transponder said transmission from said interrogator; f) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a verification user account balance comprising a user account balance derived from said transmission from said interrogator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of calculating a revised user account balance in a recognition system comprising a transponder in wireless electrical communication with an interrogator, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a user account balance; b) receiving in said interrogator said user account balance; c) Calculating in said interrogator said revised user account balance, a factor in said calculation being said user account balance; d) Transmitting from said interrogator to said transponder said revised user account balance; and e) receiving in said transponder said transmission from said interrogator; f) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a verification user account balance comprising a user account balance derived from said transmission from said interrogator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of receiving in said interrogator said verification user account balance and of comparing said verification user account balance to the revised user account balance so that the interrogator may verify that the revised user account balance was properly received in said transponder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of retransmitting from said transponder to said interrogator said user account balance if the verification user account balance does not equal the revised user account balance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said revised user account balance is calculated by debiting an amount from said user account balance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said recognition system is an automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said AVI system is a toll collection system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of entering a transponder maintenance mode prior to said step of transmitting from said interrogator to said transponder said revised user account balance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of entering said transponder maintenance mode further comprises the step of sending an access code from said interrogator to said transponder, said access code giving said interrogator access to restricted addresses within a transponder memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the user account balance is stored in said transponder in an encrypted form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said interrogator decrypts said user account balance prior to calculating said revised user account balance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said interrogator encrypts said revised user account balance prior to transmitting said revised user account balance to said transponder.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of calculating a revised user account balance in a recognition system, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a user account balance; b) receiving in said interrogator said user account balance; c) calculating in said interrogator said revised user account balance, said revised user account balance being the user account balance less the toll to be charged to the particular vehicle at the particular toll area; d) transmitting from said interrogator to said transponder said revised user account balance; e) receiving in said transponder said transmission from said interrogator; f) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a verification user account balance derived from said transmission from said interrogator; and g) comparing said verification user account balance to the revised user account balance so that the interrogator may verify that the revised user account balance was properly received in said transponder.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of calculating a revised user account balance in a recognition system, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a user account balance; b) receiving in said interrogator said user account balance; c) calculating in said interrogator said revised user account balance, said revised user account balance being the user account balance less the toll to be charged to the particular vehicle at the particular toll area; d) transmitting from said interrogator to said transponder said revised user account balance; e) receiving in said transponder said transmission from said interrogator; f) transmitting from said transponder to said interrogator a verification user account balance derived from said transmission from said interrogator; and g) comparing said verification user account balance to the revised user account balance so that the interrogator may verify that the revised user account balance was properly received in said transponder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 and further comprising the step of repeating at least one of the steps recited therein if the verification user account balance does not equal the revised user account balance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
155 words
An interrogator for a recognition system, said interrogator comprising: a) a transponder, said transponder having a memory for maintaining user account balances, a transmitter in electrical communication with said memory, said transmitter for transmitting an original user account balance, and a receiver in electrical communication with said memory for receiving a revised user account balance; b) an interrogator, said interrogator having a receiver for receiving said original user account balance, a control circuit in electrical communication with said receiver for computing a revised user account balance, said computation using said original user account balance as a factor, a transmitter in electrical communication with said control circuit for transmitting said revised user account balance to said transponder, and a memory for receiving from said transponder a transmission comprising a verification user account balance and further operable to compare said verification user account balance to said revised user account balance received in the transmission from said transponder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
155 words
An interrogator for a recognition system, said interrogator comprising: a) a transponder, said transponder having a memory for maintaining user account balances, a transmitter in electrical communication with said memory, said transmitter for transmitting an original user account balance, and a receiver in electrical communication with said memory for receiving a revised user account balance; b) an interrogator, said interrogator having a receiver for receiving said original user account balance, a control circuit in electrical communication with said receiver for computing a revised user account balance, said computation using said original user account balance as a factor, a transmitter in electrical communication with said control circuit for transmitting said revised user account balance to said transponder, and a memory for receiving from said transponder a transmission comprising a verification user account balance and further operable to compare said verification user account balance to said revised user account balance received in the transmission from said transponder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interrogator of claim 14 wherein said control circuit is operable to compare said revised user account balance and the revised user account balance received in the transmission from said transponder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |