US 7,320,430 B2
Variable rate toll system
Christopher James Dawson, Arlington, Va. (US); Peter George Finn, Brampton (Canada); Barry Michael Graham, Silver Spring, Md. (US); and Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Charlottesville, Va. (US)
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y. (US)
Filed on May 31, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/421,300.
Prior Publication US 2007/0278300 A1, Dec. 06, 2007
Int. Cl. G07B 15/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 235—384  [340/928; 705/13] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining a varying toll charge for use of a toll segment of a road, said road including said toll segment and a non-toll segment, said road being designed whereby drivers of vehicles are enabled to use either said toll segment or said non-toll segment to travel between first and second locations, said method comprising:
determining an average speed for vehicles traveling on said toll segment of said road;
determining an average speed for vehicles traveling on said non-toll segment of said road;
determining a difference between said average speed for vehicles traveling on said toll segment and said average speed for vehicles traveling on said non-toll segment; and
using said difference in calculating a toll charge for vehicles using said toll segment, said calculating being accomplished by a computer device.