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  System, method and computer readable medium for toll service activation and billingUSPTO Application #: 20070124199Title: System, method and computer readable medium for toll service activation and billing Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for toll service activation and billing, comprises receiving fleet information at a toll authority via a toll rental entity, receiving a service request at the toll rental entity, sending toll usage data related to the service request to a third party entity, receiving a payment at the toll rental entity based on the service request, and sending a payment to the toll authority based on the toll usage data. (end of abstract)
Agent: Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. - Dallas, TX, US Inventors: Benjamin P. Robinson, Debbie Lemon, Sarath K. Balachandran USPTO Applicaton #: 20070124199 - Class: 705013000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, Or Cost/price Determination, Automated Electrical Financial Or Business Practice Or Management Arrangement, Transportation Facility Access (e.g., Fare, Toll, Parking) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070124199. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/726,300, titled Toll Fee System And Method Using Prepaid Toll Pass, filed on Oct. 13, 2005, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/759,937, titled Business Process For Toll Fee System And Method For Vehicle Registration, Invoicing, Opt-In Services, And Toll Violations, filed on Jan. 18, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/763,097 titled Method And System For Toll Collection With Optional Service Capabilities, filed on Jan. 27, 2006, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated by reference herein. [0002] The present patent application is also related to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 11/125,521, titled Toll Fee System And Method, filed on May 10, 2005, to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Docket No. RTL008, titled System, Method, And Computer Readable Medium For Billing, and to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Docket No. RTL009, titled System, Method, And Computer Readable Medium For Billing Tolls, filed on Sep. 06, 2006, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to toll systems and methods and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems, methods, and computer readable media for guaranteed preauthorized toll service activation and billing for third party renters and a toll collection entities. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention incorporates by reference various information including: toll fee tracking systems and methods for automatic, non-contact, high-speed toll fee tracking and payment of vehicular tolls using a Pre-authorized Toll Pass, business processes for toll fee system and method for vehicle registration, invoicing, opt-in services, and toll violations, and to toll service systems and methods adapted to provide toll service to third party entity vehicles without having to stop at a toll authority. In such a scenario, a toll rental entity gathers all third party entity vehicle information such as, for example, license plate number, vehicle registration state, vehicle make, vehicle model and the like from third party entities to provide toll service to the third party entity vehicles. When a third party entity customer rents a third party entity vehicle with the toll rental service option, the toll rental entity receives such notification as opt-in service transaction from the third party entity and communicates the information back to the toll authority/toll collection entity to support the service for the third party entity vehicle. [0005] The third party entity also transfers opt-out service information to the toll rental entity in the event the customer decided to change his/her mind to use the toll service. In the preauthorized toll service model, the toll rental entity guarantees payment to the toll authority for the toll service. The toll rental entity may provide the toll usage such as, vehicle information, transponder information, location information, time stamp, and vehicle picture. The toll rental entity might all send the third party renter information on demand for any future references. [0006] If the customer is not opted for this service and violated the toll authority/toll collection entity by not paying at the toll authority/toll collection entity, then the toll authority/toll collection entity identifies third party vehicles by license plate number. The toll rental entity will then communicate with the third party entity to obtain rental violator information for later violation processing. Instead of charging the customer by toll usage, embodiments of the present invention charge the customer by the rental period. [0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for toll service activation and billing, comprises receiving fleet information at a toll authority via a toll rental entity, receiving a service request at the toll rental entity, sending toll usage data related to the service request to a third party entity, receiving a payment at the toll rental entity based on the service request, and sending a payment to the toll authority based on the toll usage data. [0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for toll service activation and billing, comprises receiving fleet information at a toll authority via a toll rental entity, receiving a service request at the toll rental entity, if the service request consists of an opt-in for service, sending a payment to the toll authority (or authorities) based on the service request, and if the service request consists of an opt-out for service, sending a payment to the toll authority if the toll rental entity receives a valid toll usage during the opt-out for service. [0009] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for toll service activation and billing, comprises receiving a service request at the toll rental entity, if the service request consists of an opt-in for service, sending a payment to a toll authority (or authorities) based on the service request, and if the service request consists of an opt-out for service, sending a payment to the toll authority if the toll rental entity receives a valid toll usage during the opt-out period for service, receiving toll usage data at the toll rental entity, matching the toll usage data with information related to the opt-in for service and the opt-out for service, and sending a payment related to the matched toll usage data. [0010] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable medium comprises instructions for: receiving fleet information, receiving a service request related to the fleet information, sending toll usage data related to the service request, receiving a payment from a first entity based on the sent service request, and sending a payment to a second entity based on the toll usage data. [0011] In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable medium comprises instructions for: receiving fleet information, receiving a service request related to the fleet information, and sending a payment based on the service request if the service request consists of an opt-in for service. [0012] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable medium comprises instructions for: receiving a service request, if the service request consists of an opt-in for service, sending a payment based on the service request, and if the service request consists of an opt-out for service, sending a payment based on a valid toll usage during the opt-out for service. [0013] In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a system for toll service activation and billing, comprises a toll rental entity that: receives fleet information, receives service requests, receives payments based on the service requests, sends toll usage data related to the service requests to a first non-toll rental entity, and sends a payment to a second non-toll rental entity based on the toll usage data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0015] FIG. 1 is a first flow diagram depicting messages sent between a third party entity, a toll rental entity, and a toll authority in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is a second flow diagram depicting messages sent between a third party entity, a toll rental entity, and a toll authority in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 3 is a third flow diagram depicting messages sent between a third party entity, a toll rental entity, and a toll authority in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating service activation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating service cancellation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an opt-in and an opt-out process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Continue reading... 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