Vehicle occupancy identification system

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/622,374, filed Oct. 28, 2004 and entitled “Vehicle Occupancy Identification.”

[0002] The present invention relates to vehicle traffic monitoring and management, and more particularly to a system for identifying vehicle occupancy for monitoring managed lane traffic.

[0003] An increasing number of vehicles are traveling over progressively more congested transportation networks. In an effort to relieve such congestion, managed lanes, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) and high occupancy tolling (HOT) lanes are utilized where two or more occupants must be present in the vehicle. Although managed lanes decrease traffic and congestion, abuse of such lanes by vehicle operators is a continuing problem. Identification of vehicle occupancy is an important component of managed lane management and operation. Enforcement of multiple occupants in a vehicle traveling in a managed lane, typically requires law enforcement personnel to visually confirm two or more occupants in a vehicle. This monitoring is tedious and unreliable, costly and time consuming. Therefore, a need exists for an electronic monitoring system to verify vehicle occupancy to improve the use and benefit of managed lanes.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, an in-vehicle transponder communicates with roadside readers to transmit a data stream of information that has been previously presented to the transponder. The transponder accepts multiple data cards and the identification numbers of the vehicle occupants for transmission to roadside transceivers.

[0006] Referring to the FIGURE, the present vehicle occupancy identification system is illustrated, and is generally identified by the numeral 10. System 10 includes an in-vehicle on-board unit (OBU) 12 which is located in vehicles traveling on a roadway and, particularly within managed HOV and/or HOT lanes. OBU 12 communicates with multiple roadside transceivers 14 which are positioned along a roadway. Transceivers 14 communicate with a host agency 16 to confirm eligibility of vehicle traffic in the managed lanes.

[0007] Each OBU 12 within a vehicle accepts a vehicle passengers' data card, such as, for example, a smart card which includes an identification number representing a vehicle occupant. An interface 18 is provided within OBU 12 for reading the data card. The information read from the data card by interface 18 is stored within data storage 20 for use by a processor 22. Processor 22 communicates with a transceiver 24 which in turn communicates information relating to the number of passengers traveling within a vehicle to roadside transceivers 14.

[0008] Multiple data cards are sequentially inserted into interface 18. Vehicle passengers insert and remove data cards one at a time as single reads in OBU 12. Passengers present their data cards individually to interface 18 for storage of data within data storage 20. Each occupant of the vehicle registers their data card with the OBU 12 prior to entering a lane read zone.

[0009] Spot check of vehicles traveling in managed lanes is accomplished using a roadside-to-vehicle interrogation of the OBU 12 utilizing an interrogation unit 26 in a stationary or mobile environment. Interrogation unit 26 communicates with transceiver 24 of OBU 12 to provide an on the spot, real time, confirmed enforcement by reading the data stored within OBU 12 relating to the number of data cards read in the vehicle under interrogation. Data card transactions are processed and stored in OBU 12 prior to a vehicle entering a managed lane read zone, such that sufficient time exists for OBU 12 to transmit its data to roadside transceivers 14.

[0010] Having described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that modifications thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.