Mobile device and navigation device toll paying system and method

A computer-implemented method for processing the electronic payment of tolls, comprising executing on a processor the steps of:

• storing, in the memory of a toll collection server, an accounting record for a mobile user account that is associated with a mobile user and a mobile computing device including a battery;
• storing, in the memory of the toll collection server, a database having a plurality of toll locations, respective geofences associated with the plurality of toll locations, and at least one toll that is incurred by the mobile user when the mobile computing device passes at least one toll location of the plurality of toll locations;
• increasing a frequency of GPS position measurements, on the toll collection server, when the mobile computing device has entered the respective geofence of the at least one toll location to trace the path of the mobile computing device;
• decreasing the frequency of the GPS position measurements, on the toll collection server, when the mobile computing device has exited the respective geofence of the at least one toll location to reduce use of the mobile computing device battery;
• sending a first notification from the toll collection server to the mobile computing device to indicate the mobile computing device is within the geofence of the at least one toll location;
• receiving, by the toll collection server, an electronic communication containing a second notification that the mobile computing device has exited the respective geofence of the at least one toll location;
• modifying the accounting record on the toll collection server to deduct the amount of the toll from the mobile user account;
• coupling the toll collection server to a toll authority server;
• and
• sending an electronic payment to the toll authority server in an amount that is associated with the toll for the at least one toll location.

A system for collecting electronic tolls comprising:

• a mobile computing device including a battery;
• a toll collection server connected to the mobile computing device;
• and
• a toll authority server coupled to the toll collection server;
• wherein the toll collection server stores:
• an accounting record for a mobile user account that is associated with a mobile user and the mobile computing device, and
• a database having a plurality of toll locations, respective geofences associated with the plurality of toll locations, and at least one toll that is incurred by the mobile user when the mobile computing device passes at least one toll location of the plurality of toll locations, and
• wherein the toll collection server has the ability to:
• increase a frequency of GPS position measurements, on the toll collection server, when the mobile computing device has entered the respective geofence of the at least one toll location to trace the path of the mobile computing device;
• decrease the frequency of the GPS position measurements, on the toll collection server, when the mobile computing device has exited the respective geofence of the at least one toll location to reduce use of the mobile computing device battery;
• send a first notification to the mobile computing device to indicate the mobile computing device is within the geofence of the at least one toll location;
• send, to the mobile computing device, an electronic communication containing a second notification that the mobile computing device has exited the respective geofence of the at least one toll location;
• modify the accounting record on the toll collection server to deduct the amount of the toll from the mobile user account;
• and
• send an electronic payment to the toll authority server in an amount that is associated with the toll for the at least one toll location.