Rfid vehicle tag with manually adjustable data fields

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for use in a vehicle for use in an electronic toll collecting system. The tag is capable of transmitting data to a tag interrogator indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual or audible tag status indicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of the tag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent by radio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through a toll area. The tag may be used in a system including a tag interrogator configured to read the tag status information and to transmit to the tag information to be indicated by said tag status indicator.

1 . A system for electronic toll collection comprising:
 a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag interrogator; and   an RFID tag comprising a manual input and at least one of an audible or visual status indicator,   
       wherein said manual input indicates a state of said RFID tag, 
       wherein said tag interrogator is configured to read said state, and 
       wherein said status indicator indicates information received by said RFID tag and from said RFID tag interrogator. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said information related to a fee amount collected based on said state. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said information is related to vehicle occupancy information. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said state is related to one or more of vehicle occupancy, vehicle type or purpose of vehicle use. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said RFID tag interrogator is configured to read a message transmitted by said RFID tag,
 wherein a first portion of said message indicates said state.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a second portion of said message is fixed data programmed at a factory or by a tolling agency. 
     
     
         7 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag interrogator for electronic toll collection comprising:
 an RFID tag interrogator configured to read a state of an RFID tag having a manual input for setting a tag state, and at least one of an audible or visual status indicator,   said RFID tag interrogator further configured to transmit status information, wherein said status information is indicated by the at least one of an audible or visual status indicator.   
     
     
         8 . The RFID tag interrogator of  claim 7 , wherein said information is related to a fee amount collected based on said state. 
     
     
         9 . The RFID tag interrogator of  claim 7 , wherein said information is related to vehicle occupancy information. 
     
     
         10 . The RFID tag interrogator of  claim 7 , wherein said state is related to at least one of vehicle occupancy, a vehicle type, or a purpose of vehicle use. 
     
     
         12 . The RFID tag interrogator of  claim 7 , wherein said information includes at least one of tag validity information or tag account balance information. 
     
     
         13 . The RFID tag interrogator of  claim 7 , further configured to read a message transmitted by said RFID tag,
 wherein said state is indicated in a first portion of the message.   
     
     
         14 . The RFID tag interrogator of  claim 13 , wherein a second portion of said message is fixed data programmed at a factory or by a tolling agency.