Integrated billing of vehicle-related services using ad-hoc networks
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDwip N. Banerjee, Rabindranath Dutta, Ramamoorthy Karthikeyan
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Abstract
A method, computer program, and data processing system for billing vehicle-related services using ad hoc networks is disclosed. A device associated with the vehicle operator is discovered in an ad hoc network. Billing information is obtained from the device, and the operator is billed for whatever services are being utilized at present (e.g., parking or a toll road).
Claims39
A method comprising:
- discovering, in an ad hoc network, a device associated with an operator of a vehicle;
- responsive to discovering the device, adding the device to the ad hoc network;
- obtaining, from the device, billing information regarding the operator;
- and
- billing the operator for a service related to the vehicle.
A method operative in a user device, comprising:
- discovering an ad hoc network;
- joining the ad hoc network;
- and
- transmitting billing information associated with an operator of a vehicle for payment for a vehicle-related service.
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for:
- discovering, in an ad hoc network, a device associated with an operator of a vehicle;
- responsive to discovering the device, adding the device to the ad hoc network;
- obtaining, from the device, billing information regarding the operator;
- and
- billing the operator for a service related to the vehicle.
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a user device, comprising instructions for:
- discovering an ad hoc network;
- joining the ad hoc network;
- and
- transmitting billing information associated with an operator of the vehicle for payment for a vehicle-related service.
A data processing system comprising:
- a bus system;
- a processing unit, including at least one processor and connected to the bus system;
- memory attached to the bus system;
- a set of instructions in the memory,
- wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to perform the acts of:
- discovering, in an ad hoc network, a device associated with an operator of a vehicle;
- responsive to discovering the device, adding the device to the ad hoc network;
- obtaining, from the device, billing information regarding the operator;
- and
- billing the operator for a service related to the vehicle.
A data processing system comprising:
- a bus system;
- a processing unit, including at least one processor and connected to the bus system;
- memory attached to the bus system;
- a set of instructions in the memory,
- wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to perform the acts of:
- discovering an ad hoc network;
- joining the ad hoc network;
- and
- transmitting billing information associated with an operator of a vehicle for payment for the service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.