TransCore unveils hardcase E-ZPass+South transponder called eZGo

TransCore has released a multiprotocol transponder that apparently can meet the E-ZPass/IAG specifications. The hardcase transponder brandnamed eZGo Anywhere or just eZGo can operate as an active transponder in IAG E-ZPass mode, and it also responds as a passive tag in the ATA mode as used in Oklahoma and Dallas TX, while also performing like a sticker tag with the Super eGo protocol as deployed in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Washington state.

Following release of the RFP in the spring the immediate reaction of TransCore and other competitors of Mark IV was that the IAG specifications were written to preclude anyone but Mark IV from bidding. At least it's now clear that TransCore is planning to submit a competing bid with an IAG protocol transponder. Their previously announced scheme was to offer the dual mode Encompass 6 reader to support the IAG mode for existing transponders alongside a transition to the brilliantly compact, cheap, batteryless SeGo sticker tags like those deployed in Florida (SunPass Mini) and Texas.

But isn't the E-ZPass transponder covered by Mark IV patents?

The IAG E-ZPass protocols have had many patents surrounding them. They were written by Mark IV and the IAG has never required them to be made open for competition. Some of the patents have expired, but others remain.

TransCore officials at IBTTA told us their lawyers have thoroughly reviewed the eZGo transponder and Mark IV's patents and that it doesn't infringe any of them. Mark IV officials just smile when the patent issue is raised.

Feedback lights and buzzer can be provided

The eZGo transponder shown at the IBTTA annual conference and in the literature has no customer feedback - lights and a buzzer - as required in the E-ZPass recompete procurement. Officials of TransCore told us that can easily be added, and that the new transponder is planned to be responsive to the IAG request for proposals.

TransCore began a crash effort to build the transponder after the IAG indicated in the spring that their planned offering of sticker tags was inelgible. The feedback feature required a hardcase transponder with a battery. In early summer a prototype was submitted to the FCC for approval (which was granted.) TransCore officials tell us the eZGo is now thoroughly tested and ready to to roll.

TransCore claim that the eZGo transponder will operate on 95% of toll lanes throughout the US. It lacks only the ability to operate Title 21 protocols as used in California and Colorado. TransCore say eZGo "provides a more immediate and achievable answer to interoperability, dramatically condensing the timeline to national interoperability with a highly pragmatic technical approach that does not rely on costly, uncertain, and highly complex technology deployments (meaning 5.9GHz - TOLLROADSnews)."

They extoll their new transponder's security features: "The TransCore eZGo Anywhere OBU employs advanced security techniques that ensure a tag's authenticity while preventing data corruption and/or alteration. In addition, tag cloning, spoofing, copying, or duplicating is prevented. eZGo Anywhere OBUs support factory programming of fixed data fields that are locked at the factory and cannot be reprogrammed. Agency read-only data fields are programmed by the agency using password-protected programming equipment."

In IAG and SeGo modes the eZGo has read-write capabilities at high speeds and a memory of 256 bits IAG mode and 2048 bits in SeGo mode. (ATA is read-only.)

Dimensions of the eZGo are 109mm x 74mm x 15mm (4.3 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches). Weight is 99g (3.5oz).

The transponder comes in five colors. It has a lithium battery with an intended life of 10 years.

TransCore displayed the circuit board at IBTTA in Baltimore - large and complex circuitry for the IAG mode, and small and simple for the SeGo/ATA mode.

North Carolina given attractive option

eZGo has to be very attractive to North Carolina Turnpike Authority which has an RFP coming out any day now. It would enable North Carolinans to use the one transponder throughout the IAG, and south into Florida and southwest through Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas.

The Mark IV transponder on offer lacks the ability to operate in Florida, Georgia and Texas in the ATA and SeGo modes. But it has one attractive feature the eZGo lacks - the ability to operate in the ASTMv6 mode used in Toronto and Minneaplois for tolling and throughout the country with trucks for weigh station bypass.

They say "should" suggesting "must" but some say they only mean "could" - Clintonian parsing

One prominent industry figure tells us we misreported in saying the IAG is making customer feedback (lights and tones) a requirement for the new E-ZPass transponder. He points out that the IAG procurement document states: "When the Statement of Work uses the word “should” or “prefer”, it indicates that IAG Members have a preference for a certain aspect or higher level of performance or for certain elements or features to consider. In such cases, Proposers are free to propose a subsystem offering a different, lower, or higher level or aspect of performance than what is preferred..."

COMMENT: This is ridiculous. The word "should" according to normal english usage is an instruction, not a statement of an option. When a buyer tells suppliers that they "should" provide a feature or a performance standard then the only sensible interpretation of that is that this feature or performance is required.

Only an idiot (or a lawyer) would try to parse a difference between "should" and "must".

If the IAG were really prepared to accept a transponder without feedback, they would surely say so explicitly in their RFP. They don't. They say it should have feedback.

We stand by our interpretation - according to the language of the RFP from the IAG customer feedback is required in the new E-ZPass transponder.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-09-27