Electronic toll collection (ETC) is an automated system that allows traffic to move quickly and efficiently through toll facilities on roads, bridges and in tunnels. The system takes advantage of vehicle-to-roadside communication technologies (microwave or infrared communication and more recently GPS technology) to perform an electronic monetary transaction between a vehicle and the toll agency.
A motorist with an ETC transponder can travel through the toll lanes with the fee being automatically deducted from a pre-paid account. The system is designed to assist the management of toll operations through technology that aids in streamlining traffic movement and through data collection. Data is then transmitted to the control room using Ethernet or other technology. Ethernet Direct has upgraded its technology offering to provide solutions for these requirements.
Ethernet in ETC
Today, Ethernet is widely used in road traffic applications to provide greater bandwidth in intelligent transportation applications to monitor traffic and control the congestion on roads. The new Ethernet Direct solutions offer several benefits, including:
* Queuing time reduced in the electronic lanes at the toll booths.
* Discounts are able to be offered at any toll facility.
* ETC systems help reduce emissions, conserve fuel and ease traffic congestion.
Specification requirements included the ability to handle video streaming, fast optical resolution, single or dual homing function and flexible Ethernet channel bandwidth allocation.
System overview
The system was designed using HMG-628G – a reliable and fault tolerant 8-port full Gigabit managed Ethernet switch. It supports six 10/100/1000TX Ethernet ports and two small plug gauge (SFP) ports that support Gigabit SX or LX. Video streams mean greater bandwidth; in order to handle this increased traffic Gigabit connections as required. Ethernet Direct HMG-628G offers the required features along with advanced network security.
The IP security function supports 10 IP address accounts for Web security, while SNMP and telnet management security prevent intrusion. Other features from Ethernet Direct include:
* Fast recovery in ring structures (less than 10 ms).
* Can be used with multiple vendor LAN running on STP.
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