Implementation of the MAC Layer of a DSRC identification system

Resumo

DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) is a well known widespread technology. One of the main applications of DSRC is RTTT (RoadTransport and Traffic Telematics), especially EFC (Electronic Fee Collection) on tolled roads, bridges or tunnels. Other vehicle-related applications had been envisaged, such as car parking or fuel refilling automatic payment. These applications were successfully developed, deployed and are in current use in Portugal. Especially for EFC, medium access control is of utmost importance. In this paper it is presented an implementation scheme for the MAC-layer of the RSE (road side equipment), suitable for low-cost microcontrollers, to operate between the two equipments (as in Figure 1), and also the MAC layer of the SPI connection, of the two Microcontrollers present within the RSE. The result is interface software that controls the referred communication, embracing hardware and software into a join solution. This hardware works with both transfer rates, the LDR (Low Data Rate), the current technology and the MDR (Medium Data Rate).