Run efficiency measuring system, a vehicle and a certificate

Abstract

A run efficiency measuring system measures both investment into a vehicle for run and actual run performance by the vehicle. The investment means cost of energy, toll, and budgeted time, while the actual run performance means travel distance and saved time. Run efficiency is calculated on the measurements separately by difference in driver, between toll run and free run, and in unit price of energy. The measurement is summarized every time when one of the differences occurs, or day changes, or predetermined travel distance has been run. Vehicle is in wireless communication with IC card type certificate integrated with credit card which is inserted into card slot of the vehicle to identify driver for the individual run efficiency calculation, authentication as qualified driver, and ETC payment. Run efficiency data gotten in a vehicle can be taken over to next different vehicle for accumulation by way of memory of the certificate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle communication system comprising;
 a first electronic identification kept by a first driver for the purpose of operating vehicles under license including a first memory to store communication data, first identification data of the first driver keeping the first electronic identification, and first data of licensing the first driver to operate vehicles;   a first electronic payment device kept by the first driver in conformity with an electronic payment system; and   a first vehicle including
 a first electronic communicator configured to communicate with the first electronic identification and with the first electronic payment device, 
 a first identifier configured to identify the first driver who keeps the first electronic identification and actually operates the first vehicle by means of the first identification data received from the first memory of the first electronic identification in communication with the first electronic communicator, 
 a first payment controller configured to make electronic payment based on the first electronic payment device in communication with the first electronic communicator, and 
 a first communication controller configured to transmit information of the first vehicle and information of payment made by the first payment controller to the first memory of the first electronic identification through the first electronic communicator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electronic identification, the first electronic payment device and the first electronic communicator are of noncontact type, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second vehicle including:
 a second electronic communicator configured to communicate with the first electronic identification and with the first electronic payment device,   a second identifier configured to identify the first driver who keeps the first electronic identification and, after leaving the first vehicle, actually operates the second vehicle by means of the first identification data received from the first memory of the first electronic identification in communication with the second electronic communicator,   a second payment controller configured to make electronic payment based on the first electronic payment device in communication with the second electronic communicator, and   a second communication controller configured to transmit information of the second vehicle and information of payment made by the second payment controller to the first memory of the first electronic identification through the second electronic communicator,   wherein the first memory of the first electronic identification is configured to store the information of payment made in both the first and second vehicles based on the first electronic payment device in communication with the first and second electronic communicators, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first electronic identification, the first electronic payment device and the second electronic communicator are of noncontact type, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second electronic identification kept by a second driver for the purpose of operating vehicles under license including a second memory to store communication data, identification data of the second driver keeping the second electronic identification and second data of licensing the second driver to operate vehicles; and   a second electronic payment device kept by the second driver in conformity with an electronic payment system,   wherein the first electronic communicator is further configured to communicate with the second electronic identification and with the second electronic payment device,   wherein the first identifier is further configured to identify the second driver who keeps the second electronic identification and actually operates the first vehicle by means of the second identification data received from the second memory of the second electronic identification in communication with the first electronic communicator,   wherein the first payment controller is further configured to make electronic payment based on the second electronic payment device in communication with the first electronic communicator, and   wherein the first communication controller is further configured to transmit information of the first vehicle and information of payment made by the first payment controller to the second memory of the second electronic identification through the first electronic communicator.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first electronic identification, the first electronic payment device and the second electronic communicator are of noncontact type, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second electronic identification kept by a second driver for the purpose of operating vehicles under license including a second memory to store communication data, identification data of the second driver keeping the second electronic identification and second data of licensing the second driver to operate vehicles; and   a second electronic payment device kept by the second driver in conformity with an electronic payment system,   wherein the first electronic communicator is further configured to communicate with the second electronic identification and with the second electronic payment device,   wherein the first identifier is further configured to identify the second driver who keeps the second electronic identification and actually operates the first vehicle by means of the second identification data received from the second memory of the second electronic identification in communication with the first electronic communicator,   wherein the first payment controller is further configured to make electronic payment based on the second electronic payment device in communication with the first electronic communicator, and   wherein the first communication controller is further configured to transmit information of the first vehicle and information of payment made by the first payment controller to the second memory of the second electronic identification through the first electronic communicator.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 7 , wherein the second electronic identification, the second electronic payment device and the first electronic communicator are of noncontact type, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first payment controller configured to make electronic payment of the Electronic Toll Collection system. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first payment controller configured to make electronic payment of cost for gas/electric energy. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first payment controller configured to make electronic payment of cost for gas/electric energy. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle communicating with an electronic identification kept by a driver for the purpose of operating vehicles under license and with an electronic payment device in conformity with an electronic payment system comprising:
 an electronic communicator configured to communicate with the electronic identification and with the electronic payment device, the electronic identification having a memory to store communication data, identification data of the driver keeping the electronic identification, and data of licensing the driver to operate vehicles;   an identifier configured to identify a specific driver who keeps the electronic identification and actually operates the vehicle by means of the identification data received from the memory of the electronic identification in communication with the electronic communicator;   a payment controller configured to make electronic payment based on the electronic payment device in communication with the electronic communicator; and   a communication controller configured to transmit information of the vehicle and information of electronic payment made by the payment controller to the memory of the electronic identification through the electronic communicator.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronic identification, the electronic payment device and the electronic communicator are of noncontact type, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 11 , wherein the payment controller configured to make electronic payment of the Electronic Toll Collection system. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 14 , wherein the payment controller configured to make electronic payment of cost of the gas/electric energy. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 12 , wherein the payment controller configured to make electronic payment of cost for gas/electric energy. 
     
     
         17 . An electronic identification communicating with a vehicle in conformity with an electronic payment system, the identification being kept by a specific driver for the purpose of operating vehicles under license, the electronic identification comprising:
 a memory to store identification data of the driver keeping the electronic identification, and data of licensing the driver to operate vehicles; and   a electronic communicator configured to transmit the identification data of the driver and the data of licensing the driver to operate vehicles from the memory to the vehicle, and to receive information of the vehicle and information of electronic payment made in conformity with the electronic payment system from the vehicle to the memory; and   a storage controller configured to store the information of electronic payment received though the electronic communicator into the memory.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic identification, the electronic payment system and the electronic communicator are of noncontact type, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic payment system is to make electronic payment of the Electronic Toll Collection system. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle communication system according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic payment system is to make electronic payment of cost for the gas/electric energy.