This paper outlines some recent developments in vehicle communications systems, and discusses some of their implications for motorway operators. Methods for communicating digital information to a vehicle or exchanging information between a vehicle and the outside world include: (1) the PanEuropean digital cellular radio-telephone, complying with the GSM standard; (2) RDS encoding of FM radio transmission; (3) microwave radio transmission in the 5.8G Hz frequency band, which has been selected for remote toll charging; and (4) the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) and its Differential form (DGPS). It will soon be feasible to connect these four media to the same computer system, computer system, to identify a vehicle owner, or pay automatically for services provided by one smart card. This system could be used for a portable terminal for a vehicle, which could include links with various operating sensors. Motorway network operators need to consider the services that they could expect from such technologies and equipment, for their own needs and for communication with their users. They could apply these technologies to collect and disseminate basic information about traffic, traffic restrictions and local weather. The paper discusses some issues that motorway operators face as: (1) suppliers of information to external operators; (2) telecommunication operators; and (3) providers of telecommunication capability and services.
Abstract