Field of invention

The present invention discloses a novel method for user fees collection in toll plaza without compromising the speed. More specifically the invention discloses an Arduino operated system which can provide an efficient solution to collect the user fees at the toll plaza for unidirectional roads without hampering the speed of the vehicle. The proposed automated toll collection system uses passive radio frequency identification tags for the key enabling solution with respect to the manual toll collection method and system which is independent of internet connectivity. Moreover, the proposed system is also integrated with web and mobile application for achieving better user interaction.

Background / prior art:
The collection of toll tax is a very important source of revenue for the government in every growing country like INDIA, but the current system is very much time consuming and associates many malfunctions due to the involvement of a huge number of manlabor. Therefore it has become a need for the society a system which not only would overcome all the present hindrances but also works efficiently. So the automated toll collection system using Passive Radio Frequency Identification tags with integrated web and mobile applications has shown a promising solution to the existing toll collection method. This complete idea is for unidirectional roads only i.e., either upstream or downstream; both directions traffic are not considered simultaneously.
KR201786717A discloses managing payment settlement using identifiable tags and artificial intelligence. It stores the information on magnetic strips and the magnetic strip is used to detect suspicious transactions. They also have track history of the operators.

Whereas the proposed invention is basically focused on the financial transactions using identifiable tags and artificial intelligence in order to read and identify a purchaser, a seller, an affiliated store business operator, and an unaffiliated business operator. But, proposed system uses RFID tags for automating the present toll collection system for unidirectional roads. Proposed solution comes with an integrated mobile and web application. The present project aims to reduce the waiting time of vehicles at toll-booths. Hence, the perspective of the two inventions is different. Unique feature of this proposed system is fully described herein in description section.
IN813MU2015A discloses mobile application which incorporates both of online and offline payments (using SMS) which increases waiting time at the toll plaza in case the internet connectivity is turned off. Again, though, the aim of the given invention and our invention mainly the same, i.e., automated toll collection system, but the given system is configured in such a way that amount is deducted from the user's account and it can works both online with internet and offline with Short Messaging Service (SMS) facility ensuring that in case of poor internet connectivity or if data service is kept off, the toll payment can still be completed.

Proposed system uses RFID tags for automating the present toll collection system for unidirectional roads. Our proposed solution comes with an integrated mobile and web application from which the amount is deducted. The car owner's account is linked with RFID tags which is placed on the vehicle. Thus, all of the transactions can be viewed through the electronic passbook in anywhere at any time. Proposed system also offers offline payment but in a different way. In case the internet connectivity is turned off, the data is saved with the microcontroller and as soon as the internet connectivity is turned on the data is sent to the cloud for processing. Again, if the user does not have sufficient balance, the amount is deducted, and the user’s wallet balance goes below zero, i.e., negative balance, which is also supported by our application. This negative balance facility is absent in the given invention. Apart from these, this proposed invention offers various unique features like congestion control, PayPass, etc.

Thus, none of the prior art attempts, individually or collectively, proposed the system and embodiments indicated and disclosed (later) by the present invention. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, none of the above mentioned prior art attempts, individually or collectively, proposed the system and embodiments indicated and disclosed by the present invention.

Object of the invention:

The object of the present invention is to provide a unique toll collection system using passive radio frequency identification tags is considered to be the key enabling solution with respect to the manual toll collection method detect and estimate.
Further objective of the present invention is to measure novel solution as the system independent of network connectivity, i.e., the system accepts payment from the user when the internet connectivity is available as well as the payment request is also accepted from the user when internet connectivity is not available.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention describes a novel method for user fees collection in toll plaza without compromising the speed. More specifically the invention discloses an Arduino operated system which can provide an efficient solution to collect the user fees at the toll plaza for unidirectional roads without hampering the speed of the vehicle. The proposed automated toll collection system uses passive radio frequency identification tags for the key enabling solution with respect to the manual toll collection method and system is independent of network connectivity. Moreover, the proposed system is also integrated with web and mobile application for achieving better user interaction.

Brief Description of the Drawing:
A complete understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following drawing:

Figure 1: Hardware architecture in presence of Internet connection
Figure 2: Integrated model of the proposed system.
Figure 3: Hardware architecture in absence of Internet connection (Off-Line Payment)
Figure 4: UML Diagram of the proposed model
Figure 5: E-R Diagram of the proposed model
Figure 6: Detailed or step-by-step website/mobile application
Figure 7: Front Screen of paytoll App
Fig. 8 Subscriber Registration Page
Fig. 9 Subscriber login page
Fig. 10 Inner screen of App showing wallet balance, transactions, and available toll plaza in Google map
Fig. 11 Inner screen of App showing amount of money needs to add in wallet
Fig. 12 Inner screen of App showing to add money in wallet through net banking
Fig. 13 Pay-pass feature
Fig. 14 Admin panel showing all transaction with wallet balance
Fig. 15 User details
Fig. 16 App view having multiple options with congestion control
Fig. 17 Admin panel showing central wallet balance with all the registered users
Fig. 18 Residual part of Admin panel showing central wallet balance with all the registered users
Fig. 19 Login through fingerprint
Fig.20 Login through User ID and password
Fig.21First screen after successful Login
Fig.22 Residual part of First screen after successful Login
Fig.23 Adding money options
Fig.24 Successful debit and credit operations
Detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings:

The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. The amount of detail offered has the intention to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. If the specification states a feature “may” or “can” be included or have a characteristic, that particular feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
The exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings will now be described more fully hereinafter. The exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention relates to novel method of automated toll collection system using Passive Radio Frequency Identification tags which shows a promising solution to the existing toll collection method wherein the system which is independent of internet connectivity, i.e., it is functioning when the internet connectivity is available as well as when the internet connectivity is not available.
In the preferred embodiment, the RFID readers are fixed at the top of toll plazas, and the tags are placed on the wind shields of the vehicles. These tags are automatically read by the readers when the vehicle crosses as toll booth. The data acquired is then transferred to the micro-controller unit (MCU) and then to server, this way the vehicles information is being processed. The system comes with an e-wallet which users can access once registered and the tax deduction from an e-wallet is based on the class of the vehicle. The to-and-fro communication between sensor and MCU can be done using different protocols such as Message Queuing Transport Telemetry (MQTT), Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP), XMPP, REST, 6LowPAN etc. The most common among this is the Inter Integrated Communication (IIC) protocol popularly known as I2C protocol. This system has numerous features which indeed makes the user get useful information. Google map plotting, offline payment, the pay pass which is the advance payment option is also integrated in the system. A report button in the mobile application, video monitoring surveillance, and the user is also authenticated by receiving a mail which consists of verification link that needs to be clicked. So these are some of the unique features of this system. Figure 1 illustrates the hardware working model in the presence of an internet connection. In the preferred embodiment as illustrated the RFID tag (V) gets scanned when the car enters the toll plaza by the RFID scanner (I). The microcontroller (III), which is Arduino, in this case, collects the tag (V) information from the scanner (I) and transfers it to the Node MCU (II), bound by the I2C protocol. The Node MCU (II), in the presence of the internet (VI), sends data to the Cloud storage (VII). The power supply (IV) acts as a single source of power for all the devices.

Figure 2 illustrates distinctly the integrated hardware and software model of the proposed system. The RFID reader reads the data on the RFID tags and sends it to the microcontroller, and this, in turn, sends the data to the Node MCU. The Node MCU here acts as a two-way communication module, it sends the data to the database and also fetches necessary data from it to show the users through the display panel and open another lane gate with the help of the servo motor in case of congestion. The data is sent to the server form the database and is fetched by the cross-platform applications via different API.

In another embodiment of the invention, a lot of features viz. the user can check balance of the e-wallet, owner can have a trace of previous transactions through the passbook option and others. This makes toll tax collection systems at the toll plazas more convenient and transparent. It also saves time in terms of reducing congestions and accuracy is maintained at the level of public interest which ensures hassle free transportation.

The proposed system for toll tax collection system is automated, efficient and also provides security to both money transaction and the vehicle of the owner. The system works efficiency to manage all the vehicles at toll plazas even in rush hours by avoiding congestion and traffic queues for long hours at the toll plazas i.e. in worst situations. Thus this system provides a hassle free process for collecting toll taxes.
In the preferred embodiment, the designed system works in the following mentioned pattern wherein the main component being used here is a RFID tag and scanner which is the base element for the whole process of collecting the toll tax in a more smart and automated manner without any manual interference. And this system is only applicable to the unidirectional lanes and every vehicle is integrated with a unique RFID tag of its own which is given during registration of the car from RTO. The RFID tag is wind shielded for every vehicle permanently and is issued in the name of the owner of the vehicle, along with an e–wallet and is to be generated at the time the owner registers to the web/mobile application. Same lane is used for all kind of vehicles. Every toll plaza will have specific charges for different types of vehicles based on the class like Low Motor Vehicle, Bus and Trucks and others. The toll to be deducted depends on the class of the vehicle and the amount is decided by the appropriate authority. So, the tax to be paid is different in different toll booth.
Each and every vehicle can pass from the toll booth in hassle free condition thus there is no segregation of lanes for different types of vehicles, which contributes towards seamless functioning.
The RFID tag scanner is embedded within the plaza structure in such a position that it can easily read the RFID tag on the vehicle. The API request is sent to the central server, where the information gets cross-checked with the central database for verification. After the detail is verified the e-wallet associated with the RFID tag number is accessed and the predefined tax based on the class of the vehicle is deducted.
The owner will receive a notification-mail alerting them with the amount of transaction money and also the location of the vehicle where the toll tax has been paid so that the owner can not only keep a track on the amount of tax is being paid but also on the location of the vehicle at all times.
If the e-wallet balance is below Rs.0.00 and in such a situation, if a specific vehicle has to pay a toll tax at a plaza then a negative balance will be shown. After a single negative balance if recharge is done then the negative balance is adjusted. A fine will be imposed on the owner after two negative transactions. So that from next time owner recharges their wallet on time.
After three consecutive negative transactions the authority will be notified to take necessary action.
In another embodiment, for frequent travellers, a feature called Pay-pass has been introduced. A frequent traveller can pay the tax in advance for which they will get a discount of one payment, i.e. owner can enjoy ten free passes by only paying for nine passes in advance.
In another preferred embodiment, this system is capable of handling a seamless toll collection process in case of network failure. In such a case the tax will be deducted as soon as the internet connectivity is re-established and in the meantime the tag ID’s will be recorded in a hard drive. The system fetches the data from the hard drive and communicates to the server for deduction of the tax once the connection is re-established. Figure 3 illustrates the hardware working model in the absence of an internet connection, i.e., off-Line payment. As illustrated the system is also capable of working in such a worse condition where an internet connection is not available, and this makes the system robust. Initially, the RFID tag gets scanned when the car enters the toll plaza by the RFID scanner. But, now, the microcontroller, i.e., Arduino, collects the tag information from the scanner and transfers it to the remote computer instead of Node MCU due to the absence of internet connectivity. The computer is integrated with a serial software, which stores all the data in a .csv file format. Then this off-line data, i.e., csv file, need to upload manually to the database. The power supply acts as a single source of power for all the devices like previously.

In the preferred embodiment, the mobile/web application also provides a lot of benefits to the user. The user can have a record how much tax is deducted and from which toll plaza. The locations of toll plazas would be plotted on Google map.
A series of buttons like help button, report button etc. are present in the application to counteract any problems like medical emergency and others. These buttons can help user by making a direct link with the nearby hospitals, police stations and fuel stations. Thus the mobile application provides a user friendly interface for smooth functioning.
? Thus, the process not only gets faster, efficient and secure, this system of collecting toll tax will make the whole idea of toll tax automated, smooth and advanced. The administration will be able to easily collect the tax with less effort.
? The system also consists of an admin panel. The authority can view the total tax collected from all the toll plazas plotted in the Google map, all the transactions, monitoring toll plaza and also the registered users and their details.
? This system can also handle situations of traffic congestions. The best time calculated is when a single vehicle is passing is about 1.04 seconds. The worst time calculated is when 40 vehicles are passing at the same time through the plaza is about 1.32 seconds.
The surveillance of the Toll plaza can be achieved all time, i.e., all seven days in a week. If it is observed that congestion has increased beyond a certain threshold value, eventually another gate will be opened for passage. As soon as vehicle density reduces the second gate will be automatically closed.
Fig 1-4 illustrates the working of proposed systems in an organized manner together, communicating with each other recording and collecting data from the different sensors and using that as supplies for the servers to work with to provide an end result which will work precisely for the public taking very less amount of time and with less effort.
Fig. 4illustrates UML diagram of the proposed model. UML use case diagram helps in defining the architecture of the application. In figure 4, User, Admin, and Server are playing the role of actors. The uses cases, i.e., view complains, check balance, Passbook, Pay in Advance, View Map, Add Money, and File Report belongs to actor user, whereas view user, monitor toll plaza, and recent transactions belong to actor Admin.

The E-R diagram defines the relationship between various entities of the database. In Figure 4, the entities are Users, Wallets, Details, Transactions, Toll Booth, Congestions, Vehicle Type. The entity users have attributes password, admin, detail_ID, unique ID, Name, and email; the entity wallets have attributes user_ID, amount, lastseen. The entity Details have attributes Registration no., Registration Date, Makers Model, Pin, Address, Name, Registration Authority, and Chasis No.; the entity Transactions have attributes status, toll_ID, credit, PayPass, user_ID, amount, and txnID. The entity Toll Booth have attributes latitude, longitude, and tollID& the entity congestions have count and toll_ID as its attributes. There is one to one relationship between Users and Wallets, Users and Details, Toll booth and congestions. The primary key of all entities is the ID, which is an auto-incremented number.

Detailed or Step-by-Step workflow of the Website / Mobile Application

Figure 6 illustrates when the user enters the mobile/web application, the user has three choices of action (I) Registration, (II) User Login, and (III) Admin login. (I) The registration consists of email verification, which results in account creation and creation of the virtual wallet. After (II) User Login the user is directed towards the dashboard, which contains wallet balance, Add money, Notifications, Recent Transactions, Pay in Advance, Google map plotting, Help, and Congestions. The feature like add money is incorporated with the payment portal. If (III) admin Login is selected, it has a central wallet, google map plotting of toll plazas, list of registered users, and option to monitor toll plaza.

Advantages of the inventions:
? The role of PayToll is to improve the current toll collection system, where one needs to wait in queues. This is due to the faster operation of proposed system, the waiting time reduces significantly. This approach leads to the automation of error-free toll collection system, which reduces human labor.
? The proposed solution supports the facility of Off-Line Payment i.e. the system works when internet is available, as well as in situation of no internet connectivity.
? PayToll has a unique algorithm which allows negative transactions and calculates a fine penalty to be imposed.
? The Web and Mobile applications are more user friendly and comes with Paytm integration for easy payment.
? The system is compatible with integrated own Php-MySQL based database which in turn provides more security and flexibility to the developer as well as the users.
? The implementation and maintenance costs are very low, as we have used passive RFID tags and an MCU based system.
? The intelligence of the system can detect congestion at every toll booth and notify the user of the traffic and waiting time, and simultaneously can suggest alternate routes.
? The integration of google map and the Identification of the stolen vehicles makes the system the most unique in its category.
? The system is also very fast in its category, as it provides a best-case payment delay of 1.04s and a worst-case of 1.32sfor every vehicle.
? The use of e-wallet and Pay pass makes the system more user approachable at the same time.

? The first risk of the proposed system encountered was the feasibility of the system in case of sudden internet break-down. As the system is fully based on IoT and real time data handling thus the system was insufficient without a proper internet connection. This problemwas introduced by the Off-Line payment ability to the system. In this Off-Line mode the system stores the data in a local storage and uploads the same to the server on re-establishment of the internet connectivity.
? For making the toll payment, direct access to a bank account is a primitive idea. Proposed system integrated with e-wallet, which is assigned to the customers on registration to the server. Through the e-wallet, the amount is deducted to pay the toll tax. The e-wallet needs to be recharged regularly for maintaining sufficient balance. This again encountered another issue of waiting time at the toll-plaza in case of insufficient wallet balance.To mitigate this risk, a scheme has been designed that allows a single negative transaction and imposes fine and deducts the same amount on the next recharge. On the continuation of two successive negative transactions, the system not only imposing fine but also lodge a complaint against the user.

The invention disclosed may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the invention. Different embodiments of the invention are possible to achieve the best method of performance and to obtain the effective composition as describes. It will be understood that the invention may be carried out into practice by skilled persons with many modifications, variations and adaptations without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims in describing the invention for the purpose of illustration. It is also to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following

claims:-

Claims:

1.A system for electronic Payment of User Fees at the Toll Plaza (1,2) for Unidirectional Roads comprises of
-RFID scanner / reader (1I, 2) which is the base element for the whole process of collecting the toll tax in a more smart and automated manner without any manual interference.
-RFID tag (1v) embedded in the system to get scanned and
- RFID reader (2) reads the data and wherein collect tag (1V) information from the RFID tags.
- The microcontroller embedded in the system to and this, in turn, sends the data to the
- Node MCU which herein communicates two-way bound
- Databases collection system
- Server wherein the data sent to the database
-Cross section application/mobile application (2) via API

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein Node MCU acts as a two-way communication module wherein it sends the data to the database and also fetches necessary data from the database to show the users through the display panel and open another lane gate with the help of the servo motor in case of congestion and the data is sent to the server form the database and is fetched by the cross-platform applications using different API and bound by I2C protocol.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the powers supply (IV) acts as a single source of power for all the devices.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein data is sent to the server from the database and is fetched by the cross-platform applications via different API

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein applicable to the unidirectional lanes and every vehicle is integrated with a unique RFID tag of its own which provided during registration of the car from RTO and the RFID tag wind shielded for every vehicle permanently and issued in the name of the owner of the vehicle with an e–wallet system and wherein generated at the time the owner registers to the web/mobile application.

6. Method of electronic Payment transfer using online at the Toll Plaza (1,2) for unidirectional Roads comprises of
-Scanning of RFID tags by RFID SCANNER
-Receiving information by Microcontroller from tag by the scanner
-Transferring to Node MCU in presence of Internet
-sending data to server from database and fetched by cross platform application via different API
- Cross verification of the data in the central server, where the information gets cross-checked with
- Accessing the e-wallet associated with the RFID tag number and
- deduction of the predefined tax based on the class of the vehicle.

7. The system as claimed in 6 wherein it provides a best-case payment delay of 1.04s and a worst-case of 1.32s for every vehicle.
8. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the RFID readers are fixed at the top of toll plazas, and the tags are placed on the wind shields of the vehicles wherein tags are automatically read by the readers when the vehicle crosses as toll booth and the data acquired is then transferred to the micro-controller unit (MCU) and then to server wherein this way the vehicles information is being processed and the system comes with an e-wallet which users can access once registered and the tax deduction from an e-wallet is based on the class of the vehicle wherein the to-and-fro communication between sensor and MCU performed using different protocols.

9. Method of electronic Payment transfer using offline at the Toll Plaza (3) for unidirectional Roads comprises of
-Scanning of RFID tags by RFID scanner
-Receiving information by Microcontroller from tag by the scanner/reader
- collecting the tag information from the scanner and transfers it to the remote computer instead of Node MCU
- Storing data in computer in .csv file format. Then this off-line data, i.e., csv file,
- uploading tothe database.
- Cross verification of the data in the central server, where the information gets cross-checked with
- Accessing the e-wallet associated with the RFID tag number is accessed and
- Deduction of the predefined tax based on the class of the vehicle.

? 10.Method of electronic Payment transfer system as claimed in claim 6 and 9 wherein the system of e-wallet introduced and assigned to the customers on registration to the server and wherein wallet needs to be recharged at all times for the payment wherein algorithm embedded in the system allows a single negative transaction and imposes fine and deducts the same amount on next recharge wherein continuation of two successive negative transactions, the system not only imposing fine but also lodge a complaint against the user wherein reducing the time in case of insufficient wallet balance.