GB2026748A

GB2026748A - Ticket-issuing system

Info

Publication number: GB2026748A
Application number: GB7925388A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CIR-SPA DIVISIONE SASIB; SASIB SpA Bologna
Current assignee: CIR-SPA DIVISIONE SASIB; SASIB SpA Bologna
Priority date: 1978-07-25
Filing date: 1979-07-20
Publication date: 1980-02-06
Also published as: FR2433793A1; JPS5518799A; IT1103777B; DE2930167A1; IT7812724A0; BR7904725A

Abstract

A system for issuing a ticket for travel to a selected destination comprises: -a programmed computer; -a ticket printer coupled to the said computer; -an immediate selection keyboard 2 coupled to the computer. The immediate selection keyboard presents a plurality of keys for the immediate selection of a number of destinations, each key representing the name of a destination, whereby depressing a key of the immediate selection keyboard directly introduces into the said computer the request for the selected destination; -a class-and-traveller keyboard 3 coupled to the computer. The class- and-traveller keyboard presents a plurality of keys, each key representing the specification of a type of class and of an age limit of the traveller, and being operatively associated to the control circuit of the ticket printer, whereby depressing a key of the class-and-traveller keyboard subsequently to a key of the immediate selection keyboard will cause the printing and issue of a complete travel ticket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ticket issuing system The present invention relates to a system for the issuing of travel tickets, more particularly railway tickets, by utilizing an electronic machine of the type comprising a programmed computer coupled to a ticket printer, while the input means comprise at least two keyboards for introducing into the computer a travel ticket request.

More particularly, the invention relates to a ticket issuing system utilizing a machine of the above type comprising, in addition to an immediate selection nominative keyboard for the immediate selection of a number of destinations, a class-and-traveller keyboard presenting keys each of which specifies the type of class requested (first, second, etc.) the type of traveller, in relation to the age (adult or child) and also the instruction to print, whereby depressing a key of the immediate selection keyboard, and subsequently depressing a key of the said class-and-traveller keyboard, introduces into the computer the necessary and sufficient information for the issuing of a complete ticket, together with the order to print the said ticket.

In a ticket issuing machine of the type above indicated, the immediate selection keyboard comprises a number of keys arranged in an orderly manner in rows and columns. On these keys there are indicated the destination stations most commonly requested from a certain issuing (departure) station. If the operator does not introduce, through other keyboards for coded calls, different specific instructions, by depressing a key of the immediate selection keyboard for indicating a particular destination station, the machine will automatically consider fuifilled the following issuing conditions:: a) Travel origin (departure) station coinciding with the ticket issuing station; b) shortest route between the departure and the destination stations, unless on the key of the immediate selection keyboard there is indicated a different particular route; c) normal tariff, i.e. not containing reductions due for example to particular conditions of the traveller (invalid), to the reasons of the travel (elections, visit to a fair), to the day of travel (holiday); d) one way; e) starting date of the ticket validity coinciding with the issue date; f) normal validity (duration) of the ticket (for example, three days from the date of issue).

The above conditions are the conditions of the most frequent ticket requests: it is therefore advisable that the machine, in absence of instructions to the contrary, should consider them satisfied all together. When the above conditions are satisfied, in order to cause the printing and issuance of a complete ticket, it will be necessary and sufficient to introduce the two still missing informations, which specifically relate to the class (first or second) and to the age of the traveller (adult or child).

As a consequence, by just depressing two keys, and precisely one key of the immediate selection keyboard, and another key of the class-andtraveller keyboard (this second key giving also the instruction to print) a complete ticket will be issued by the machine.

According to another feature of the invention, it is possible to modify the predetermined usual route to a destination station appearing on the keys of the immediate selection keyboard, by depressing, successively to the key showing said destination station, one or more other keys of the same immediate selection keyboard, corresponding to the intermediate station or stations of the desired modified route. The modification of the route is made in a scalar manner, according to the chain of the names of destinations appearing on the keys which are successively depressed.

According to still another feature of the invention, it is possible to modify the station of origin of the travel ticket (which usually is the station at which the ticket-issuing machine is located) by firstly depressing a particular differentorigin key, and secondly depressing the key of the immediate selection keyboard which carries the name of the desired station of origin.

The above and other features of the invention, and the advantages deriving therefrom will appear evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment of same, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawing, in which there is diagrammatically represented a block diagram of the ticket-issuing machine.

The ticket-issuing machine comprises a programmed computer, to which there is operatively coupled a printer and a keyboard panel 1.

The keyboard panel 1 presents an immediate selection keyboard 2 comprising a plurality of keys, each one of which carries a name of a station of destination, and which are arranged for example in rows according to alphabetical order, for the immediate selection of a number of destinations which are most frequently requested from the station at which the machine is located (departure station).

Most of the keys bear just the indication of the destination: this means that usually the traveller requests for this destination a fixed route, which generally is the shortest way between the departure and the destination. However, there can be destinations which are repeated on more than one key, associated to different routes. In the example as shown, considering as departure station the station of BOLOGNA, the destination station of GORIZIA appears in two keys, with two different routes, i.e. a first key will carry the destination GORIZIA VIA MONFALCONE, while a second key will carry the destination GORIZIA VIA CONEGLIANO. In fact, from the railway station of Bologna to the railway station of Gorizia, two railway routes are frequently requested by the traveller, one route being via the station of Monfalcone, and the other route being via the station of Conegliano.

Depressing a key of the immediate selection keyboard 2 directly introduces into the computer the name of the selected destination and also gives instruction to consider as satisfied a predetermined number of conditions for the issuance of a ticket, with the exception of the two conditions relating to the class requested by the traveller and to the age of the traveller (adult or child). It is assumed that these two missing conditions will be sufficient for the issue of a complete ticket.

The keyboard panel 1 presents a class-andtraveller keyboard 3, which comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, four keys, relating to the class requested by the traveller and to the age of the traveller as taken in consideration by the railways administration (adult or child). Moreover, by depressing each key of the class-and-traveller keyboard 3, to the computer there will be given the instruction to print and issue a ticket, provided that previously a destination key of the immediate selection keyboard 2 has been depressed.

The four keys of the class-and-traveller keyboard 3 are: --II A PRINT: second class, adult, print a ticket; --II C PRINT: second class, child, print a ticket; --I A PRINT: first class, adult, print a ticket; --I C PRINT: first class, child, print a ticket.

From the above, it is apparent that a complete ticket can be issued by just depressing two keys, i.e. firstly one destination key of the immediate selection keyboard 2 and thereafter one key of the class-and-traveller keyboard 3.

According to another feature of the invention, it is possible to modify the predetermined usual route to a destination station appearing on the keys of the immediate selection keyboard 2, by depressing, successively to the key showing said destination station, one or more other keys of the same immediate selection keyboard, corresponding to the intermediate station or stations of the desired modified route. The modification of the route is made in a scalar manner, according to the chain of the names of destinations appearing on the keys which are successively depressed.

Thus, for example, in the case of a ticket request made at the departure station of BOLOGNA, by depressing in sequence the following keys: 1) UDINE 2) VERONA 3) SONDRIO the computer will receive instructions to prepare a ticket which, as far as the itinerary is concerned, will be as follows: Station of origin or departure: BOLOGNA (which is the station at which the machine is located; Station of destination or arrival: UDINE (first key depressed; Route: Via VERONA and SONDRIO, (subsequent keys depressed).

According to still another feature of the invention, it is possible to modify the station of origin (or departure) by depressing the particular key DO (Different Origin), and immediately after the key of the immediate selection keyboard 2 which carries the name of the desired station of origin. For example, if it is desired to issue a ticket having as station of origin or departure ABANO, to the station of destination TORI NO, and the ticketissuing machine is located at the station of Bologna, then it will be necessary to depress in sequence the following keys: 1) DO (instructions for a Different Origin) 2) ABANO (Modified station of origin or departure) 3) TORINO (Station of destination).

If other keys are subseqently depressed, the route from the station of origin (modified) to the station of destination will be accordingly modified, with respect to the customary route. Thus, for example, if in a machine located in the station of Bologna the following keys are depressed in sequence: 1) DO 2} ABANO 3) UDINE 4) VERONA the computer will receive instructions for a ticket which presents the following itinerary: Station of origin: ABANO (modified with respect to Bologna); Station of destination: UDINE; Route: Via VERONA.

As it appears from the drawing, the keyboard panel 1 presents other keyboards which serve for coded calls, such as for example the search of stations not appearing on the immediate selection keyboard 2, the modification of particulars relating for example to the date, tariff and other elements of the ticket. The said keyboards and their operation do not form part of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for issuing a ticket for travel to a selected destination comprising: - a programmed computer; - a ticket printer coupled to the said computer; - an immediate selection keyboard coupled to said computer, said immediate selection keyboard comprising a plurality of keys for the immediate selection of a number of destinations, each of said keys representing the name of a destination, whereby depressing a key of the said immediate selection keyboard directly introduces into the said computer the request for the selected destination;; - a class-and-traveller keyboard coupled to said computer, said class-and-traveller keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, each of said keys representing the specification of a type of class and of an age limit of the traveller, and being operatively associated to the control circuit of the ticket printer, whereby depressing a key of the class-and-traveller keyboard subsequently to a key of the immediate selection keyboard will cause the printing and issue of a complete travel ticket.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, in which the computer is programmed so that, upon depressing a key of the immediate selection keyboard, it will consider satisfied all conditions necessary for the printing and issue of a complete ticket, with the exception of the two conditions relating to the type of class and age of the traveller.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 , in which the class-and-traveller keyboard comprises the four following keys: second class, adult, print; second class, child, print; first class, adult, print; first class, child, print.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, in which depressing a first key of the immediate selection keyboard introduces into the computer the request for the selected destination according to a predetermined route, and depressing subsequently one or more further keys of the same immediate selection keyboard modifies the said predetermined route to the selected destination, according to the chain of names indicated on the said keys which are subsequently depressed.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a different-origin key coupled to said computer, whereby firstly depressing said different-origin key and secondly depressing a selected key of the immediate selection keyboard, introduces into the computer as station of origin the station which is represented by the said depressed key of the immediate selection keyboard, and which is different from the station of origin for which the computer is normally programmed.

6. A system for issuing a ticket for travel to a selected destination, as described with reference to the attached drawing.