Use of wifi detection together with mobile devices for access control and toll collection

摘要

A method for identification, geolocation, validation and transactional processing via 802.11b/g/n frequencies involving a radio, most often a commercial mobile electronic device and a receiver, most often a wireless router connected to a computer server. The radio being physically located next to the agent, in some cases inside a method of conveyance and in some cases not, the radio being geographically separated from the receiver. Validation of agent occurs at a moment temporally segregated from moment of granting access to the vendor access control zone.;An example embodiment of this invention is the use of a cell phone to transact toll payment on a toll road. In this embodiment, the vehicle operator has inside the vehicle an cell phone in the on position that is executing client software that is in communication with server software executing on a server located at a toll plaza. Communication between client and server happens exclusively through wireless fidelity frequencies. Validation occurs by comparing signature information from the cell phone with database records and ensuring the cell phone is the property of a customer with sufficient funds in the account. Simultaneous processes locate the moving vehicle by virtue of trilateration on the cell phone inside the vehicle. This is accomplished by converting received signal strength patterns into distances between the cell phone and at least three wireless routers. Upon completion of funds transfer out of the customer's account and into the account of the toll plaza operator—the gate can now be opened. This is triggered by a paid vehicle resting on an induction loop in a single toll booth that triggers gate opening.

主权项

1. A method for agent identification and/or billing, the method comprising of the following key operational elements: a) association of an agent with a mobile radio (client device) via the device's unique identifier that is captured as a 10 digit signature assigned to transmitted packets between mobile radio and receiver b) approximation of location using a wifi-only (wifi stands for “wireless fidelity”) signal trilateration involving a maximum likelihood algorithm, wherein the position determining equipment is geographically separated from the mobile station c) verification of appropriate funds available for the agent to complete the transaction to gain entry into controlling institution d) subtraction of appropriate fees from agent's account through transferring personal account information from a central database d) trigger selective gate control among several possible gates chosen based on agent's approximate location.