Automatic toll collection architecture and method combining short-range and long-range communication schemes

An automatic toll collection method combining short-range and long-range communication schemes, comprising the following steps:

• Step 1:
• A law-enforcement unit obtaining a first time and a first photo of a license plate of said vehicle as a first evidence when a vehicle appearing at a ramp entrance;
• Step 2:
• A lane communication unit recording a first coordinate and a second time of a vehicle communication unit of said vehicle as a first data;
• Step 3:
• Using a long-range communication module of said vehicle communication unit to communicate with a long-range communication device to transmit said first data to a billing unit via a mobile communication system;
• Step 4:
• Said law-enforcement unit obtaining a third time and a second photo of said license plate of said vehicle as a second evidence when said vehicle leaving a ramp exit;
• Step 5:
• Said lane communication unit recording a second coordinate and a fourth time of said vehicle communication unit of said vehicle as a second data;
• Step 6:
• Using said long-range communication module of said vehicle communication unit to communicate with said long-range communication device to transmit said second data to said billing unit via said mobile communication system;
• Step 7:
• Determining if said vehicle violates regulations by comparing said first time and said second time provided by said law-enforcement unit with said third time and said fourth time provided by said lane communication unit;
• and
• Step 8:
• Said billing unit obtaining a fee and finishing a billing transaction.