Interface

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a communication system forming a public interface for RFID-based data exchange, designed to identify a labeled object, monitoring and verification of the distance traveled of the moving object, such as a vehicle. The invention also relates to a communication method for RFID-based data exchange using public interface in form of a communication system. Both the system and method are particularly useful in toll collection systems, parking systems, accounting for entry into city centers and "park & ride" system management.

Background of the invention

NFC (Near Field Communication) technology used in the system is the development of RFID techniques, using electromagnetic waves to transfer data between the reader and the so-called tag (transponder), that is the RFID object. Electromagnetic waves are used to power the tag, so it does not need to be equipped with its own power supply. Both the NFC and RFID enable remote communication of devices using electromagnetic waves of a certain length.

The RFID system works as follows: a reader having a transmitter antenna generates an electromagnetic wave. This wave is received by the tag antenna system. The tag responds to a call and using the antenna system generates a response which is sent to the reader. The establishment of communication itself is very fast - much faster than using technologies such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The maximum distance between the tag and the reader depends on the electromagnetic wave length used and the ambient conditions (signal attenuation), and ranges from tens of centimeters to several meters from the reader antenna.

In the case of RFID the communication with tag is possible, which allows to read and, in some variants, to record information. The reading system allows simultaneous identification of multiple tags within the reading field. Tags may be equipped with power supply (so-called "active tags") allowing to read them from a distance. They may also be devoid of internal power supply, and in such case the power is supplied by means of electromagnetic waves generated by the reader (these are known as "passive tags"). This technology has a number of characteristic features: ability to identify objects from a distance; owing to encrypting technology it can be used for access control, or for eligibility verification; high resistance of the system to mechanical damage and to disturbances. It can be used for example in the area of logistics, in libraries in public transport and manufacturing.

Examples of application and implementation of the system include: employees' ID badges providing access to facilities, public transport season tickets, identification of goods/objects entering or leaving a warehouse, IDs in loyalty systems, station entrance ramps control, vehicle identification, monitoring, toll or parking fee calculation, and other applications where it is essential to control the entry and exit of vehicles, e.g. roads, parking lots, halls, warehouses and construction sites.

A broad variety of methods and systems for electronic toll collection is known, ranging from classic vignettes up to the electronic systems based on radio technologies. In the latter case, a vehicle must be equipped with a device being a special board unit transmitting the encoded information about the vehicle to relays installed on the toll. It enables a very fast calculation of all payments associated with passing through, however, this involves additional, high costs of device installation.

At present this technology becomes obsolete. The device requires additional power supply provided by batteries. It is important to remember to charge them before setting off. In addition, a disruption of communication may occur between the device and the relay located on an entry or exit gate. A gate will not open if there are no sufficient funds on the user's account. Once a gate does not open thereby preventing a vehicle from exiting a highway, the driver must go to a toll booth and manually pay the toll to a cashier. Such situations cause disruptions in a smooth customer service. These defects result in difficulties in operating the toll collection system. Similar situation may happen in case of a vignette-based system, wherein in turn there is virtually no possibility of fast electronic control and verification in the system.

German patent DE 4344433 discloses a method for registration of a vehicle on a paid section of a road by recording the location coordinates of the vehicle-associated GPS (Global Positioning System) device and comparing them with the coordinates of the entry/exit of a motorway section, stored in an electronic vignette. When the coordinates comply, they are transmitted via digital mobile network to an accounting center outside the vehicle. In the accounting center the transmitted data are used to calculate the number of highway kilometers traveled and the respective highway fees due.

The Polish Patent PL 176105 discloses a method and apparatus for vehicle location and calculation of fees for the use of a communication route, and possibly for the use of a parking area. The method is characterized in that the actual position of a vehicle with the tracking device arranged in the vehicle is determined, the actual vehicle position is compared with a number of predetermined positions assigned to a number of virtual charging stations using the vehicle CPU. Thus obtained position data may be transferred by radio to an accounting center outside the vehicle to calculate the toll; the calculation of this toll can be also completed by the device in the vehicle, and then the calculated fee can be transferred to the center, where it is deducted from the owner's account. A significant drawback of this method is that the position of a vehicle must be recorded all the time and there is no possibility of an unnamed deduction from the owned account.

From the PCT patent application WO 99/33027 a method for toll collection is known, wherein to calculate the toll the current position of a vehicle is compared to the position of a conventional toll collection point, while the vehicle passing through the actual toll collection point establishes a connection between the vehicle and the accounting center to make the payment. After the actual transaction a connection is established between the accounting center and the vehicle, and the confirmation of payment is transmitted via this connection.

The inconvenience of these known methods of calculating and charging fees is the fact of possible entering the paid section of the road can be determined with little accuracy, as only passing through a toll collection point is recorded.

The Polish patent PL 217889 discloses a method for registration of a vehicle and toll billing at toll road sections using a known positioning system using a processor for recording the current position of a vehicle. The method comprises comparing the position of the vehicle with the position of at least one characteristic point of reference associated with the entry into the toll section of a road, said comparison step being realized by the control unit. The method is characterized in that in the first area in the region of entry into a toll section of a road, when the vehicle distance is less than a predetermined distance with respect to its characteristic and designated reference point for the entry, the distance to said entry is measured with the positioning unit, and after the entry of the vehicle into the second area designated by a line located at a given distance from the same point of reference, the positioning unit also determines the actual movement direction, by comparing the direction contained in the tolerance and movement direction given in the area of entry. In case of compliance of the direction contained in the field of tolerance, the positioning unit also initiates the toll calculating procedure. When the vehicle is in the first and subsequently in the second region, and when the actual movement direction is compatible with the movement direction given for such entry, taking into account predetermined tolerances, and when is in the area of responsibility, at least one control point located on the toll section of the road is activated by the positioning unit placed on the vehicle. Once the control point is passed by the vehicle the toll calculation procedure is initiated using the positioning unit. In order to determine the position and direction of the vehicle with respect to at least one entry and the actual movement direction of the vehicle in the second region covering the entry, location data is compared with the geodesic reference data contained in the vehicle electronic map using the position determining unit.

Summary of the invention

The objective of the invention was to eliminate the above-discussed and other disadvantages of the known systems based on obsolete technologies, such as remote controls and proximity cards. Another objective of the invention was to provide a method and system allowing fully unattended and wireless control and access authorization of entry and exit of vehicles, monitoring the entire field covered by the system, increasing in effect traffic throughput for the control of entries.

Surprisingly, the system and method according to the invention turned out to meet these objectives and thereby to provide an improvement over the prior solutions.

In one aspect the present invention relates to a communication system forming a public interface for RFID-based data exchange, said system containing an RFID module, a Bluetooth module, a GPS module, a Wi-Fi module and an S-Beam module. The system comprises a database, a data concentrator for bi-directional data verification, a radio controller for reading data from a tag, a visual identification system for identifying a vehicle without a tag, a billing module, at least one tag located on the vehicle and provided with a microprocessor, at least one external database and a device supporting proximity technology, such as smartphone.

In one preferred embodiment the communication system according to the invention as an RFID module comprises an NFC module.

In another preferred embodiment of communication system according to the invention the data concentrator is connected to the billing module and the radio controller.

In yet another preferred embodiment the communication system according to the invention comprises a data center, a fixed network infrastructure, a mobile network infrastructure, a plurality of detection points, a plurality of system devices and ad hoc checkpoints, wherein the data center comprises a central analytical system and a billing module, the detection points comprise local data buffers and local data concentrators, and the system devices include RFID readers, a radar, a laser, ANPR cameras and correlation cameras, whereby

the central analytical system is connected to billing module, the fixed network infrastructure, the mobile network infrastructure and ad hoc checkpoints,

each local data buffer is connected to the fixed network infrastructure, the mobile network infrastructure, the corresponding local data concentrator and each of the system devices,

each local data concentrator is connected to the fixed network infrastructure, the mobile network infrastructure, the corresponding local data buffer and each of the system devices.

In a second aspect the present invention relates to a communication method for

RFID-based data exchange using public interface in form of a communication system, wherein the system communicates a user with a database by means of a device supporting proximity technology, such as smartphone and by means of at least one tag located on a vehicle and provided with a microprocessor, whereby a data concentrator being a part of the system exchanges data bi-directionally between the user and the system using a web, then by means of any device supporting radio connection via a radio controller the tag is identified in the database, and subsequently the system identifies the vehicle assigned to the tag and/or performs visual identification of the vehicle by identifying its license plate and vehicle type.

In one of the preferred embodiments the method according to the invention is realized by means of the communication system according to the present invention, as described above.

In another preferred embodiment the method according to the invention involves a step of identifying the vehicle and account status offline by means of the microprocessor located in the tag placed in the vehicle, and after the identification the information about toll registry and update the account status of the vehicle is transmitted back to the data concentrator via radio controller.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention the identification of the tag and its authentication takes place at checkpoints, and afterwards encrypted data related to the tag, the assigned vehicle and user is transmitted from the tag by means of proximity communication to a control system for verification, said system being a monitoring system, vehicle detection and license plates identification system or a system allowing to verify any other characteristics of the tag or the vehicle.

In a further preferred embodiment the method according to the invention involves a step of data correlation of the data obtained from RFID module and visual identification system. The data correlation step involves analysis, comparison and systematization of the data received from the visual identification system and the RFID module. The data collected from these both system elements are immediately processed and respectively categorized.

In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention payment is completed by moving the smartphone by the user into close proximity of the label provided with a dual RFID/NFC chip. In a particularly preferred embodiment method according to the invention, comprising the following steps: (a) placing a dual RFID/NFC chip in form of a label in a vehicle, (b) activating the NFC module in the label by the user by means of a mobile application, (c) confirmation of the activation of payment process by the billing module and the registration in database, (d) payment operation by uploading money from user's bank account via mobile application and (e) independent label identification by the system infrastructure.

In short, the essence of the invention is the combination of the Internet, RFID technology (in particular NFC technology), monitoring, and vehicle identification systems. The inventive concept covers a method of operation and communication of system components and system of cooperating devices, the system infrastructure allowing for operation and communication of a user with the system through the device such as a smartphone with a microprocessor located in a tag, which has the form of a sticker affixed to the controlled object.

The system and method according to the invention eliminate the disadvantages of the known systems based on obsolete technologies, remote controls and proximity cards.

They also also allow fully unattended and wireless control and access authorization of entry and exit of vehicles, monitoring the entire field covered by the system, increasing in effect traffic throughput for the control of entries.

Brief description of drawings

The method and system according to the present invention are illustrated by the figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates the basic concept of the method of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the system architecture;

Fig. 3 shows the capabilities of the system for the exchange of additional data using geolocation;

Fig. 4 shows registration of a user in the system;

Fig. 5 shows the detection of a tag on a vehicle;

Fig. 6 illustrates a general overview of the system architecture;

Fig. 7 illustrates the payment process completed by the system user by means of an integrated (dual) label and mobile application.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The basic concept of the method of the invention is illustrated in fig. 1, wherein bidirectional communication and data exchange takes place between the following pairs of the system element: between the device 6 supporting proximity technology (here in form of a smartphone) and an RFID/NFC tag 5 (e.g. placed on a vehicle's windscreen); between the device 6 and a data controller 1; and between the data controller 1 and the RFID/NFC tag 5 via radio controller 2.

The system architecture shown in fig. 2 comprises an independent local data concentrator 1 exchanging data with a radio controller 2, a visual identification system 3, a billing module 4 and external databases 8. Further, the radio controller 2 exchanges data with a tag 5 attached to a vehicle, e.g. in form of a label attached on a windscreen. The data exchanged between the radio controller 2 and the tag 5 include vehicle identification, account status (verified offline) and then data on charges register (verified offline) and vehicle account update is transmitted back. Yet further, data exchange (including vehicle tag and license plate identification) occur between the visual identification system 3 and the vehicle provided with a tag 5 or a vehicle 7 without such a tag. Finally, data exchange occurs also between the visual identification system 3 and the external database 8, such as police, insurance or company database.

Fig. 3 illustrates the capabilities of the system for the exchange of additional data using geolocation. The device 6 supporting proximity technology (here in form of a smartphone) exchanges data using RFID/NFC technology with the tag 5 assigned to a vehicle. Positioning of the vehicle in motion is realized by data exchange between GPS satellite and respective GPS module of the device 6. The device 6 also acquires the data using geolocation from the external database 8, and then exchanges data with social networks 9. Yet further, the external database 8 also exchanges data with social networks 9 and information networks 10.

The process of registration of a new user in the system is illustrated in fig. 4. The user 11 purchases a tag 5 in a tag distribution point 12, then registers 13 his account and the tag 5 in the database via data concentrator 1, and finally tops up 14 his account and places the tag 5 on a vehicle.

The detection of a tag 5 on a vehicle (presumed speed being up to 200 m/h in that each checkpoint) is shown in fig. 5. The data concentrator 1 performs bi-directional data verification by exchanging information with radio controllers 2 and via a video identification system 3 in successive checkpoints 15, 16, 17 deployed along the route of the controlled vehicle in its movement direction D. Fig. 6 illustrates a general overview of the system architecture showing both the system components and the network of connections between these components. All the connections allow for bi-directional data exchange. More specifically, the communication system comprises a data center A, a fixed network infrastructure B, a mobile network infrastructure C, a plurality of detection points D, a plurality of system devices E and ad hoc checkpoints F, wherein the data center A comprises a central analytical system A.l and a billing module A.2, the detection points D comprise local data buffers D.l and local data concentrators D.2, and the system devices include RFID readers E.l, a radar E.2, a laser E.3, ANPR cameras E.4 and correlation cameras E.5. The central analytical system A.l is connected to billing module A.2, the fixed network infrastructure B, the mobile network infrastructure C and ad hoc checkpoints F. Each local data buffer D.l is connected to the fixed network infrastructure B, the mobile network infrastructure C, the corresponding local data concentrator D.2 and each of the system devices E. Similarly, each local data concentrator D.2 is connected to the fixed network infrastructure B, the mobile network infrastructure C, the corresponding local data buffer D.l and each of the system devices E.

The payment process completed by the system user by means of an integrated (dual) label and mobile application, wherein at first the user places (a) a dual RFID/NFC chip in form of a label in a vehicle, then he/she activates (b) the NFC module in the label by means of a mobile application. After that the billing module confirms (c) the activation of payment process and the registration in database. In the next step a payment operation (d) takes place by uploading money from user's bank account via mobile application and finally the label is independently identified (e) by the system infrastructure.

In the system of the invention the identification network composed of long-range antennas automatically captures a vehicle approaching a gate or a barrier. If the authorization of the vehicle is confirmed by the system, the barrier or gate opens automatically. At the same time the antennas record the event in the system, automatically collecting, gathering and processing information regarding, for example, personnel and number of vehicles present in the protected area. The system has an implemented algorithm, which is used to smartly read license plates. Its use is intended to eliminate the risk resulting e.g. from lending passes to enter a secure area, attempts of unauthorized entry or avoiding inspection resulting from the obligation to pay tolls or parking.

The communication system of the invention forms a public interface for RFID- based data exchange, and contains an RFID module, a Bluetooth module, a GPS module, a Wi-Fi module and an S-Beam module, characterized in that it comprises a database, a data concentrator 1 for bi-directional data verification, a radio controller 2 for reading data from at least one tag 5, a visual identification system 3 (such as video monitoring system) for identifying a vehicle without a tag, a billing module 4, at least one tag 5 located on the vehicle and provided with a microprocessor, at least one external database 8 and a device 6 supporting proximity technology, such as smartphone, with control, data reading, and payment system software.

In the system, the following telecommunications / communications solutions were used: RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification), in particular NFC (Near Field Communication) - for encrypted product identification; Bluetooth - for encrypted data exchange; GPS (Global Positioning System) - now available in smartphones, for automatic search for the location of the controlled product; Wi-Fi - for data exchange between the and a smartphone; S Beam - for encrypted identifying of the product; USB - for encrypted data exchange; GPS - available in any model of a smartphone, for possible deletion of data in case of loss or theft of the phone or obtaining additional information based on current location. To be accessed the system uses a username and password. Optionally, additional security measures such as fingerprint scanning module or application, or user identification based on biometric characteristics such as user's photo, fingerprint, retinal scan, etc. are applied.

For secure data transmission and authentication of applications and data, the system uses secure coding encryption algorithms. The mobile application is an interface system for data exchange. The system is associated with generation and storing a unique programmed scrambling code, which serves as a read data authenticity identifier during an inspection. Each tag positioned in a vehicle has its own unique identification code, allowing for confirmation of its authenticity, and allowing for the registration and the subsequent verification of the system. The system uses mechanisms with a high degree of control encryption during the whole process of data exchange between the application and the system, and during the transmission and storage of classified information. The method and the mode of mechanisms connection provide the uniqueness of the system and application operating functions.

In addition, a built-in GPS system determining the inspection site allows to mark such site and enters its position in the system for data processing. The combination of such data with the data obtained from monitoring, vehicle identification and license plate recognition, is used to realizing a proper settlement of services to facilitate verification, as well as for statistical purposes, aimed to improve the quality of service rendered by the system operator.

Monitoring and identification of the vehicle and license plate identification is also part of a complete system location, providing the data necessary to determine the rates, length of the journey, or other values associated with the obligation of service settlement.

The operation principle of the system components is following:

The system using a mechanism for the exchange of information via radio controller 2 identifies the vehicle and checks the balance online or offline depending on the connection to the database 8 at the time of vehicle control. The register provides full information, exchanging data bi-directionally between the user and the system using the access to the Internet, through any device that supports radio connection. The system does not require a network connection, as it also works off-line.

Subsequently the radio controller 2 identifies the vehicle assigned to the tag 5, while visual identification of the vehicle is made by the visual identification system (3) which identifies the license plate and vehicle type. In case of detecting a vehicle without a tag being assigned to the vehicle, it transmits data for initiating vehicle identification and qualification procedure, as falling into risk of being subjected to charge enforcement procedures beyond the standard account charging procedures.

The system database synchronization with external databases, such as CEPIK, police databases, insurance bases, allows for the verification of a vehicle and charging a user for the unauthorized transit.

The functions of an RFID/NFC tag are following: • vehicle identification

• storing the related registration number and vehicle type

• storage of cached billing data

• balance updated online by the system

• information about offline charges to the account

• possibility to check the account status via a mobile phone

• possibility for mobile inspection points to do a remote reading

• possibility to top-up with a mobile application in an NFC phone

• recording the time of tag registration in the system

• verification of vehicles traveling at speeds up to 200 km/h

The functions of a radio controller 2 are following:

• vehicle identification

• reception and transfer of a registration number for analysis

• receiving an account balance offline

• charges update offline

• updating an account balance after top-up

• verification of vehicles traveling at speeds up to 200 km/h

The functions of a visual identification system 3, such as a license plate recognition system are following:

• registration of all passing vehicles

• archiving of the image shots of vehicles

• working 24 hours a day at speeds up to 200 km/h

• detection of foreign and illegible plates

• verification of compliance of inspection stickers with vehicle license plates

• correlation of data obtained by RFID/NFC to improve the reliability of recognition

• classification of vehicle size

The functions of a data concentrator 1 are following:

• independent system operating at tariff points

• online and offline operation • correlation of data from the RFID/NFC system and recognition of registration data

• updating content of RFID/NFC tags and data system in the central system on billing accounts

• detection and alteration of external systems for vehicles without tags or with incorrect tags

• correlation of the size of a vehicle with the type of a tag

• communication with mobile checkpoints

• geolocation

The functions of a billing module 4 / A.2 are following:

• control of the account recharges and data correlation

• tariffs and settlements

• provision of tariff information of detected vehicles to external systems (e.g. viaTOLL)

• reporting to external systems (operators, control institutions, external databases: CEPIK, police databases, insurance database)

• portal for users (recharge accounts, status monitoring, automatic recharge, invoices, mobile application, linking tag with account)

• communication with top-ups POS and pre-paid systems

• automatic generation of evidence (records, photos) for charging non-billed vehicles

The use of geolocation allows the system to share additional information, such as: weather information, traffic information, gas stations information, services information, road works information. Exchange of information occurs using external information systems, such as news sites or social networking sites.

Topping up and starting an account is done by: tag purchase one of the partners in the distribution network, tag registration in the system using a mobile application or any other device that supports web browsers, placing a tag on a vehicle and top-up in the selected billing module by one of the following:

• charging a credit card using a system application

• top up at a partner point network • an external smartphone application that supports mobile payments

• electronic transfer to the registered account

• conventional transfer to the registered account

• standing order

• appending charge to the phone bill

The data correlation step is realized by a central analytical system A.l, which is responsible for correlation of data obtained from all the component modules/systems of the system of the invention. The central analytical system A.l is responsible for the following operations:

• data collection from detection points

• data correlation of detection subsystems

• data visualisation

• data analysis and detection of events and incidents

• forwarding data on events and incidents for sampling and label detections having low-certainty of reading

• monitoring of the condition of detection points

• data retention and anonymisation (according to privacy policy) Detection of tags is realized in selected checkpoints. Checkpoints may have a fixed or mobile form. Exchange of data between the checkpoint that identifies a vehicle, and the data concentrator has a two-way form.

Detection of tags also takes place outside the specified control system, in which there is a start and end point measurement. In this case, the data obtained from the detection of a vehicle may be used for other purposes such as monitoring, positioning, or one-time identification.

In the case of an extensive network of checkpoints, such solution can be used, for example by an owner to locate and confirm the presence of a vehicle in a designated area. Such a function can be operated via a mobile application systemically assigned to the tag, or by any computer system.

Identification of an RFID/NFC tag and its identification and authentication takes place at checkpoints. The encrypted data is transmitted through proximity communication, and then verified with an active participation of other system components, such as: monitoring system, vehicle detection or license plates identification, or other characteristics enabling verification in the case of application of the system in other areas than the calculation of tolls given as an example.

The system according to the invention is shown in more detail in an embodiment related to settlement of tolls, parking, and entrance to a pay zone.

At the first stage, the funds are placed in the account assigned to a tag registered to a vehicle. At the time of identification of a tag at a checkpoint, the system blocks the certain amount of money for the entire journey, or full, daily period of parking or entry to a pay zone. Such solution protects the system operator from attempts to evade identification or misrepresentation by changing the previously registered tags for other during the fee calculation intended to avoid an obligation to pay a fee.

The funds are blocked in the full amount in an account until exit from a toll road or leaving a paid parking zone. At the end of the period for calculating a fee, the difference between the calculated amount due, and the surplus blocked in an account is unblocked. At the time a vehicle with insufficient funds is registered in the system as entering a toll road, the user is notified by a text message, or a message on his smartphone with the obligation to immediately top up his account.

In case of identification of a vehicle with an account with insufficient funds, several verifications follow to establish whether during transit such account has been topped up, blocking funds, and in such account was not topped up, marking the vehicle for a call for payment within 7 days, or in the case of further delay debt collection plus a contractual penalty.

Structure of the system and the application allows configuration changes in accordance with specific legal requirements of relevant certifying authorities, and the characteristics of the particular use area in which the system is to be implemented. This does not affect the method and manner of operation of the system. Databases can be held by a commercial special-purpose entity with regard to access to certain functions of governmental bodies (e.g. CEPIK System, GDKiA or police databases), or a contractor hired by a governmental body.

Mobile application interface can be maintained and regularly updated by the target operator, and the system includes the option to integrate with all available operating systems and billing modules. The system may have several valuation methods of the costs of using the system, including free downloadable versions for end users.

The system can operate each of the fixed and mobile network infrastructure, or both. The fixed network infrastructure B is based on existing fiber optic / broadband networks used for light signaling and/or ITS and/or MAN networks. It does not require local analysis in detection points, provides data caching in these detection points, allows for online inspection and immediate access to data. ANPR analysis is performed centrally. The communication within the network is encrypted. Local data buffers Dl (used in the systems with fixed network infrastructure B) serve for storage and transmitting raw source data (encrypted at detection points) to the central analytical system A.l). Such buffers provide backup in case of connection failure or insufficient system performance. The local data buffers D.l also serve for scheduling synchronization tasks.

The local data concentrators D.2 have essentially the same role as local data buffers D.l, dependent on the local structure of the installation.

A mobile network infrastructure C used by the system generally uses the infrastructure of mobile operators (LTE, HSPA). It allows for simultaneous use of the services rendered by several operators. The separated safe logical network and encrypted transmission/data contribute to the system safety. This mobile network infrastructure can be used for either primary or backup connections.

As mentioned above the system devices E include RFID readers E.l, a radar E.2, a laser E.3, ANPR cameras E.4 and correlation cameras E.5. The functionality of laser E.3 includes vehicle detection and speed control. The functionality of ANPR cameras E.4 includes detection of foreign and illegible plates and allows for operation 24 h/day at up to 250km/h (depending on the specific solution). In turn, the functionality of correlation cameras E.5 involves registration of all passing vehicles, archiving of vehicles images, verification of compliance inspection of stickers with plates of vehicles, correlation of the RFID data in order to increase the reliability of recognition and classification of vehicle size. The correlation cameras E.5 are allows for operation 24 h/day at up to 250km/h (depending on the specific solution). The functionality of ad hoc checkpoints F includes traffic measurement system before deployment, random inspection inside the zone and correlation of data with the central analytical system A.l.

The functions of a dual RFID/NFC chip are following:

• storage of registration number associated with the vehicle;

• data storage of supplementary vehicle identification;

• storage of cached data billing: updated (online) by the system an account status and Information about debits (offline)

• ability to read tags by mobile checkpoints;

• data correlation during the operation of account recharge (top-up in the

selected methods of account recharges).

The RFID-based system and method according to the invention allows for easy, effective, convenient and safe identification of vehicles, as it operates in any weather conditions, with no need for eye-contact, with reading accuracy being above 99% even at high speed (up to 200 km/h), with no additional ID cards, and is protected against forging and cloning, while authorization takes place by means of cryptographic algorithms. In addition to toll collection, access & traffic control, the system and method of the invention enhances the traffic safety (i.a. due to anti-collision protocol launched when many tags are detected within a predetermined area) and facilitates searching for stolen vehicles.