IL242260B2

IL242260B2 - System and method for tendering ticketing transaction for a rail transportation vehicle

Info

Publication number: IL242260B2
Application number: IL242260A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Ravid Gideon; Kalmy Roni; Levinsky Eytan; Hila Vax; Sakant Tegyda
Original assignee: Symcotech Ltd; Ravid Gideon; Kalmy Roni; Levinsky Eytan; Hila Vax; Sakant Tegyda
Priority date: 2015-10-25
Filing date: 2015-10-25
Publication date: 2023-12-01
Also published as: IL242260B1; WO2017072752A1; IL242260A

Description

242260/2 1 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TENDERING TICKETING TRANSACTION FOR A RAIL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE OR PERFORMING A TICKETING TRANSACTION FOR A BUS TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION [1] The present invention relates to a system and method for tendering a transaction for—or performing ticketing transactions, e.g of purchasing—an electronic ticket to be used on a public transportation vehicle, such as a rail transportation vehicle, or exploiting a previously purchased electronic ticket on a public transportation vehicle, such as a bus transportation vehicle. More particularly, the present invention provides a system and method that employ an interface emulator apparatus (IEA) facilitating a Bluetooth communication adapter transforming its signal into a serial communication configured to operate in the existing rail station terminal system or installed on a bus validation systems, and an electronic contract management application through which charges and/or travel rights can be debited and credited on a mobile device enabling communication with standard rail station terminal systems or bus validators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [2] The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. [3] In general, a purchase of a ticket in order to have an access to public transportation, such as rail or bus transportation, is done through any form of payment including physical and/or electronic transaction (in some embodiments by a regular credit card) generating a virtual electronic contract including the transactional funds that are then subsequently uploaded to the dedicated passenger’s magnetic or smart card. The dedicated passenger’s magnetic card can be then applied to a transportation terminal at the rail station or bus validator validating the virtual electronic contract and deducting the transactional funds accordingly to the travelling destination. As an increasing number of users engage mobile devices to perform point-of-sale transitional functions, there has been a growing need to improve the way users interact with 242260/2 2 purchase transactions of a ticket in order to have an access to public transportation by eliminating the need of the dedicated passenger’s magnetic card and creating a smart card emulator operable to communicate with existing rail station terminals or bus validators. [4] System and methods for a secure cardholder load are known. U.S. Application 20130140360, System and method for a secure cardholder load and storage device, discloses a system for a secure cardholder and storage device includes a mobile communication device and a secure card transporter (SCT). The SCT includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, a microprocessor, a magnetic stripe card reader, a contact chip card reader, a contactless card reader, an audio jack interface and a micro-USB interface. The SCT interfaces with the mobile communication device via the audio jack interface or the micro-USB interface, and the SCT captures payment card data and transmits the captured payment card data to a merchant point of sale (POS) checkout system both in the physical and virtual environments. The system provides convenient buying experience for buyers, and secure and informative transaction for sellers. [5] Chinese Application 1591439, System and method for paying bus fares by using cell phone identification apparatus, discloses a wireless mobile communication system, in particular, it relates to a system for paying bus traffic fare by adopting mode of reading handset and its method. Said system is equipped with a miniature mobile communication analog base station capable of identifying and authenticating mobile handset. Said system includes fare-collecting terminal, mobile handset, settlement center and mobile communication business charging center. The fare-collecting terminal, mobile handset and settlement center can utilize wireless communication network to transfer signal data, and the settlement center and mobile communication business charging center can utilize wireless communication network to transfer signal data, and said fare-collecting terminal is formed from power supply, farecollecting equipment control terminal and analog base station. [6] Utilization of mobile devices to improve transaction processes has been described previously in the prior art. U.S. Patent No. 8,738,454 to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Transferring digital receipt data to mobile devices, describes methods, systems, and computer program products f0r transferring digital receipt data to mobile devices. A point-of-sale ("POS") system generates digital receipt data as part of a sales transaction. The point-of-sale ("POS") system and a mobile device, possibly also along with a receipt data server, interoperate with one another to transfer digital receipt data generated to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the point-of-sale 242260/2 3 ("POS") system transfers digital receipt data for a sales transaction to the receipt data server.

An identifier, such as, for example, an application identifier or transaction identifier, is stored along with the digital receipt data to match the digital receipt data with the mobile device. The mobile device subsequently uses the identifier to access the digital receipt data from the receipt data server. In other embodiments, the point-of-sale ("POS") system transfers digital receipt data directly to the mobile device. [7] None of the current technologies and prior art, taken alone or in combination, does not address nor provide a solution for tendering or performing payment for an electronic ticket to a public transportation vehicle, such as a rail or bus transportation vehicle, using the existing in a mobile devices technology by creating interface emulator apparatus (IEA) capable of communication with the existing rail station terminals or bus validators. Referring to emulator capabilities on mobile devices, the known technologies in prior art do not refer to the level of communication validating the electronic contract and the station terminal or bus validator that should be presented, do not take into account considerations of security and efficiency improvement in user experience of each passenger, and as a result none of the existing card emulators claimed have truly sufficient and seamless performance equivalent to the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) functionality described in the present invention. [8] Therefore, there is a long felt and unmet need for a system and method that overcomes the problems associated with the prior art. [9] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10"

[10] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention. id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11"

[11] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or 242260/2 4 in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12"

[12] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method for tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle, the method comprising initiating the ticketing transaction at a rail station terminal system or bus validator associated with the public rail or bus transportation vehicle; dynamically prompting identification and verification of electronic contract transaction using a mobile device at the rail station terminal system or bus validator comprising one or more interface emulator apparatuses (IEA); in response to identification and verification of electronic contract transaction, collecting digital contract data (DCD) for the terminal transaction stored in an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; one or more processors of the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) executing the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard rail terminal or bus validator within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompting a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator and encoding an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; tendering or performing the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator; employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal or bus validator system; and employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device, the employing comprising: using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing 242260/2 transaction as corresponding to the electronic (mobile) contract management application; updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device. id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13"

[13] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for initiating transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle, the method comprising: accessing, by using a mobile device, a contract verification data server comprising digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction to be uploaded to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; choosing one or more types of digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction via the electronic contract management application; transmitting and receiving the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction in communication with a contract verification data server to the electronic contract management application; generating one-time per-use communication encryption of the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction; employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) resident at the remote security authorization module (RSAM) server to verify the update of chosen digital contract data (DCD) on the electronic contract management application; and uploading and/or updating the digital contract data (DCD) on the electronic contract management application. id="p-14" id="p-14" id="p-14"

[14] It is another object of the present invention to provide an interface emulator apparatus (IEA) for tendering transaction of or performing purchasing of an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors; system memory; an antenna used commonly to both receive a modulated Bluetooth (BT) signal and to transmit said generated Bluetooth (BT) signal; and a hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM); said one or more processors is operable to execute the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard rail terminal or bus validator within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompt a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator and encode an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail 242260/2 6 station terminal system or bus validator by employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by further using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application and updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15"

[15] The novel features believed to be characteristics of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as the preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: id="p-16" id="p-16" id="p-16"

[16] Fig. 1 presents a flow diagram illustrating a general method for initiating transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle disclosed by the present invention; id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17"

[17] Fig. 2 presents an embodiment of the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) disclosed by the present invention; id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18"

[18] Fig. 3 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle disclosed by the present invention; and id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19"

[19] Fig. 4 presents a top level scheme of the system for initiating and tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle disclosed by the present invention. id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20"

[20] Fig. 5 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for automatically validating and monitoring transaction for an electronic ticket to a public bus transportation vehicle. 242260/2 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21"

[21] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured. id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22"

[22] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23"

[23] While the technology will be described in conjunction with various embodiment(s), it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present technology to these embodiments. On the contrary, the present technology is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24"

[24] Furthermore, in the following description of embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, the present technology may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present embodiments. id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25"

[25] Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present description of embodiments, discussions utilizing terms such as "displaying", "detecting," "performing," "identifying," "configuring" or the like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device. The computer system or similar electronic computing device manipulates and transforms data 242260/2 8 represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission, or display devices, including integrated circuits down to and including chip level firmware, assembler, and hardware based micro code. id="p-26" id="p-26" id="p-26"

[26] As will be explained in further detail below, the technology described herein relates to tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public transportation vehicle, such as a rail or bus transportation vehicle, in particular, an electronic emulator facilitating a communication adapter to a rewritable radio frequency identification device (RFID), coupled to an electronic contract management application to which charges can be debited and credited on a mobile device capable of communication with standard rail station terminals. id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27"

[27] The term "mobile/computing device" interchangeably refers, but not limited to such as a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, wearable computing device, cellular communicating device, digital camera (still and/or video), PDA, computer server, video camera, television, electronic visual dictionary, communication device, personal computer, and etc. The present invention means and methods are performed in a standalone electronic device comprising at least one screen. Additionally or alternatively, at least a portion of such as processing, memory accessible, databases, includes a cloud-based platform, and/or web-based platform. In some embodiments, the software components and/or image databases provided, are stored in a local memory module and/or stored in a remote server. id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28"

[28] The term "transaction" refers hereinafter to any fee, set by the transfer of any type of electronic or physical funds in exchange for a transportation ticket or charging the uploaded contract balance based on the traveling distance, wherein the mobile device is involved in both the initiation and the approval of the payment. The payer can be present at the point of sale or "in movement" ("on the way") and the infrastructure that supports the payment can change. id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29"

[29] The term "security authorization module (SAM)" refers hereinafter to any a remote or local security application, which is used in various implementations to provide interfaces and storage for holding, passing, validating, verifying of security information within the involved transaction resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator. id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30"

[30] The term "transport data structures" refers hereinafter to any data for use by public transport operators, including personal user data, travel rights data and usage data, that is defined in a 242260/2 9 common way as to allow usage and information interchange between different operators of public transport service. A well-known example for such set of structures will be the Card Data Model (CDM) in the Calypso card specification, also known as European standard EN 1545 – "Identification Card System – Surface Transport Application. id="p-31" id="p-31" id="p-31"

[31] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and the above detailed description. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. id="p-32" id="p-32" id="p-32"

[32] Reference is now made to Fig. 1, presenting a flow diagram illustrating a general method for initiating a transaction for an electronic ticket (in some embodiments, following a purchase of such ticket) to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle 10 disclosed by the present invention disclosed by the present invention. Said method comprises, for a number of repetitions, steps of providing interface emulator apparatus (IEA) for tendering or performing a transaction of an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle 200, the method comprising steps of accessing, by using a mobile device, a contract verification data server 102 comprising digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction to be uploaded to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; choosing one or more types of digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction 104 via the electronic contract management application; transmitting and receiving the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction in communication with a contract verification data server to the electronic contract management application, transmitting 106 the digital contract data (DCD) to a remote security authorization module (RSAM) resident at the remote security authorization module (RSAM) server to validation data and to send 108 the contract and validation data to the electronic contract management application, the method employs transmitting the digital contract data (DCD) from the electronic contract management application to a business object (BO) server; and uploading and/or updating the digital contract data (DCD) 110 on the electronic contract management application. Consequently, the step 110 may include deducting electronic funds from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures. 242260/2 id="p-33" id="p-33" id="p-33"

[33] Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a schematic illustration of an example of the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) disclosed by the present invention 20. The system employs interface emulator apparatus (IEA) 200 for tendering or performing a transaction of an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors 202; system memory 204; an antenna 206 used commonly to both receive a modulated Bluetooth (BT) signal and to transmit said generated Bluetooth (BT) signal; said one or more processors 202 is operable to execute the Bluetooth (BT) module 208 to generate a one-time per-use communication encryption Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard rail terminal or bus validator within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompt a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) 210 resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator and encode an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device 212; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) 210 resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator apparatus to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device 212; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by further using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application and updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device 212. id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34"

[34] Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a general method for tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle disclosed by the present invention 30. Said method comprises, for a number of repetitions, steps of providing interface emulator apparatus (IEA) for tendering or performing a transaction of an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle 200, the method comprising steps of initiating the ticketing transaction 302 at a rail station terminal system or bus validator associated with the public rail or bus transportation vehicle by 242260/2 11 receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be initiated; dynamically prompting identification and verification of electronic contract transaction 304 using a mobile device at the rail station terminal system or bus validator comprising one or more interface emulator apparatuses (IEA); in response to identification and verification of electronic contract transaction, collecting digital contract data (DCD) for the terminal transaction 306 stored in an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; one or more processors of the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) executing the Bluetooth (BT) module 308 to generate a one-time per-use communication encryption Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard rail terminal or bus validator within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompting a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator and encoding an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; tendering or performing the ticketing transaction 310 at the rail station terminal system or bus validator; employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) 312 associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator in an off-line mode; and employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device, the employing comprising: using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application by verifying electronic funds deduction from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures; updating the digital contract data (DCD) and/or transactional data for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device. The method employs transmitting 314 the digital contract data (DCD) and the transaction details to the local security authorization module (LSAM) server obtaining a new validation data to the updated digital contract data (DCD). Following step 314, said method further comprising sending a push notification to the mobile device 316, the push notification indicating that digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction is updated accordingly to the ticketing transaction and said validation data . 242260/2 12 id="p-35" id="p-35" id="p-35"

[35] Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a schematic illustration of an example of the system for initiating and tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle disclosed by the present invention 40. The system employs interface emulator apparatus (IEA) 402 for tendering or performing a transaction of an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors; system memory; an antenna used commonly to both receive a modulated Bluetooth (BT) signal and to transmit said generated Bluetooth (BT) signal; said one or more processors is operable to execute the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a one-time per-use communication encryption Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard rail terminal or bus validator (validation equipment) 404 within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompt a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator 404 and encode an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device 406; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator 404 by employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator apparatus 404 to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator 404; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device 406; said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or bus validator by further using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application and updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device 406, by uploading and/or updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction, comprises deducting electronic funds from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures. id="p-36" id="p-36" id="p-36"

[36] Before the transaction initiation, said system further employs a remote security authorization module (RSAM) or local authorization module (LSAM) to authorize the digital contract data (DCD) 242260/2 13 id="p-37" id="p-37" id="p-37"

[37] After that the system employs transmitting and receiving the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction (in some embodiments, in communication with a contract verification data server 412 to transmit the digital contract data) to a standard transaction services server 414 that stores transactional data associated with the rail station terminal system or bus validator validating the update of digital contract data (DCD). id="p-38" id="p-38" id="p-38"

[38] Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a general method for automatically validating and monitoring transaction for an electronic ticket to a public bus transportation vehicle disclosed by the present invention 50. Said method comprises, for a number of repetitions, steps of providing interface emulator apparatus (IEA) for performing a transaction of an electronic ticket to a public bus transportation vehicle 200, the method comprising steps of automatically suggesting one or more types of personal digital contract data (DCD) 502 for the ticketing transaction via the electronic contract management application, the personal digital contract data (DCD) is utilized to provide the optimal travelling destination contract based on localization and travelling area parameters over one or more bus operators; automatically generating a unique mobile device transactional identifier 504 associated with the personal digital contract data (DCD); automatically validating personal digital contract data (DCD) 506 for the ticketing transaction based on localization and travelling area parameters; and automatically monitoring the mobile device transactional identifier 508 associated with the mobile device by one or more bus operators. For example, by automatically validating and monitoring the mobile device transactional identifier 508 associated with the mobile device, one or more bus operators (or bus inspectors) are able to control and analyze remotely the number of users currently validating their personal digital contract data (DCD) based on proximity access to the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) and utilize such aggregated data into bus transportation validation and monitoring map, allowing to present in real-time an exact number of users and preferred choice of digital contract data (DCD) for the optimal travelling destination, as well as travelling area parameters over one or more bus operators, such as user and transport traffic control as analyzed in different urban areas. 242260/2 14 id="p-39" id="p-39" id="p-39"

[39] ABSTRACT The present invention extends to methods, systems, and apparatuses for tendering or performing a transaction for an electronic ticket to a public rail or bus transportation vehicle, comprising initiating the ticketing transaction at a rail station terminal system or bus validator associated with the public rail or bus transportation vehicle; dynamically prompting identification and verification of electronic contract transaction using a mobile device at the rail station terminal system or bus validator comprising one or more interface emulator apparatuses (IEA); in response to identification and verification of electronic contract transaction, collecting digital contract data (DCD) for the terminal transaction stored in an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; one or more processors of the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) executing the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a one-time per-use communication encryption Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard rail terminal or bus validator within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompting a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator and encoding an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; tendering or performing the ticketing transaction at the bus validator system; employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or bus validator to verify the ticketing transaction at the bus validator system; and employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device, the employing comprising: using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application; updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device. . .

Claims

242260/4 CLAIMS

1. A method for tendering transaction for an electronic ticket to a public transportation, the method comprising: a. initiating the ticketing transaction at a rail station terminal system or associated with the public rail transportation vehicle or at a public transportation validator; b. dynamically prompting identification and verification of electronic contract transaction using a mobile device at the entry and/or exit rail station terminal system or at said public transportation validator comprising one or more interface emulator apparatuses; c. in response to identification and verification of electronic contract transaction, collecting digital contract data (DCD) for the terminal transaction stored in an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; d. one or more processors of the interface emulator apparatus (IEA) executing the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a tag payload or one-time per-use communication encryption Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the rail station terminal within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompting a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) that is 1) resident at the rail station or public transport terminal; 2) resident at the interface emulator apparatus; and encoding an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; e. tendering the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or performing the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator; f. employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or at the public transportation validator, to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or at the public transportation validator; and g. employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data to the mobile device, wherein the employing comprising: 242260/4 i. using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application; ii. updating the digital contract data and/or transactional data for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of automatically suggesting one or more items of digital contract data (DCD) resident on the mobile device for the ticketing transaction via the mobile contract management application (MCMA), and/or automatically choosing one digital contract data (DCD), the personal digital contract data (DCD) is utilized to provide the optimal travelling destination contract based on localization and travelling area parameters associated with one or more public transport operator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprising sending a push notification to the mobile device, the push notification indicating that digital contract data for the ticketing transaction is updated accordingly to the ticketing transaction charging.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the initiating the ticketing transaction, at the rail station terminal system or at the public transportation validator, comprises receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be initiated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating fund deduction verification process, comprises verifying electronic funds deduction from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein completing the ticketing transaction, at the rail station terminal system or at the public transportation validator, comprises receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be completed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or at the public transportation validator, to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or at the public transportation validator, is executed in an off-line mode.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction can be validated automatically based on localization and travelling area parameters. 242260/4

9. The method of claim 8, wherein validating said digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction based on localization and travelling area parameters is performed based on GPS and/or sensors of the user’s device analysis in real-time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after uploading and/or updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction, generating a unique mobile device transactional identifier associated with the personal digital contract data (DCD).

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring said mobile device transactional identifier associated with the mobile device by one or more public transportation operators.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the ticketing transaction validation automatically based on localization and travelling area parameters is opt out, said method further comprising sending a push notification to the mobile device, the push notification indicating when the mobile device is outside its localization and travelling area parameters associated with said digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device is outside its localization and travelling area parameters associated with said digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction, the push notification further indicates an option to purchase manually and/or automatically correlating to new localization and travelling area parameters digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring further comprising receiving a list indication of expired and/or erroneous mobile device transactional identifier associated with the mobile device by one or more public transportation operators.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring further comprising receiving an indication when and where mobile device transactional identifiers associated with the mobile devices on a transportation vehicle have been evaluated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication further comprises suggesting mobile device transactional identifiers associated with the mobile devices on a different transportation vehicle to be evaluated.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring further comprising evaluating a monitoring level based on transportation vehicle transit frequency; transportation vehicle transit availability; and on a number of monitored mobile devices on board of the transportation vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises steps of: 242260/4 a. accessing, by using a mobile device, a contract verification data server comprising digital contract data for the ticketing transaction to be uploaded to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; b. choosing one or more types of digital contract data for the ticketing transaction via the electronic contract management application; c. transmitting and receiving the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction in communication with a contract verification data server to the electronic contract management application; d. generating one-time per-use communication encryption of the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction; e. employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) resident at the remote security authorization module (RSAM) server to verify the update of chosen digital contract data on the electronic contract management application; and f. uploading and/or updating the digital contract data on the electronic contract management application.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising steps of: a. automatically suggesting one or more items of digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction via the mobile contract management application (MCMA); and b. performing a payment for said item in step (b.) via the mobile contract management application (MCMA).

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the uploading and/or updating the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction, comprises deducting electronic funds from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the uploading and/or updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction, comprises deducting electronic funds from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) comprises transmitting the digital contract data to remote security authorization module (RSAM) server that stores transactional data associated with the rail station terminal system or with the public transportation validators.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) server comprises subsequently transmitting the digital contract data from 242260/4 remote security authorization module (RSAM) server to a business object (BO) server validating the update of digital contract data.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting and receiving the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction in communication with a contract verification data server comprises transmitting the digital contract data to a standard transaction services server that stores transactional data associated with the rail station terminal system, or with the public transportation validators, validating the update of digital contract data.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein automatically suggesting one or more types of personal digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction via the electronic contract management application, employs providing the unlimited travelling destination contract over one or more public transport operators.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of automatically suggesting one or more types of personal digital contract data (DCD) based on localization and travelling area parameters is performed based on GPS and/or sensors of the user’s device analysis in real-time.

27. A method for tendering transaction for an electronic ticket to a public transportation vehicle, the method comprising: a. initiating the ticketing transaction at a terminal system associated with the public transportation vehicle; b. dynamically prompting identification and verification of electronic contract transaction using a mobile device at the entry and/or exit terminal system comprising one or more interface emulator apparatuses; c. in response to identification and verification of electronic contract transaction, collecting digital contract data for the terminal transaction stored in an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; d. one or more processors of the interface emulator apparatus executing the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard terminal within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompting a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the terminal system and encoding an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; e. tendering the ticketing transaction at the terminal system; 242260/4 f. employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the terminal system to verify the ticketing transaction at the terminal system; and g. employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data to the mobile device, wherein the employing comprising: i. using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application; ii. updating the digital contract data and/or transactional data for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said method further comprising sending a push notification to the mobile device, the push notification indicating that digital contract data for the ticketing transaction is updated accordingly to the ticketing transaction charging.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the initiating the ticketing transaction at the terminal system comprises receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be initiated.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the initiating fund deduction verification process, comprises verifying electronic funds deduction from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein completing the ticketing transaction at the terminal system comprises receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be completed.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the terminal system to verify the ticketing transaction at the terminal system is executed in an off-line mode.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprising steps of : a. accessing, by using a mobile device, a contract verification data server comprising digital contract data for the ticketing transaction to be uploaded to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; b. choosing one or more types of digital contract data for the ticketing transaction via the electronic contract management application; 242260/4 c. transmitting and receiving the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction in communication with a contract verification data server to the electronic contract management application; d. generating one-time per-use communication encryption of the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction; e. employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) resident at the remote security authorization module (RSAM) server to verify the update of chosen digital contract data on the electronic contract management application; and f. uploading and/or updating the digital contract data on the electronic contract management application.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the uploading and/or updating the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction, comprises deducting electronic funds from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) comprises transmitting the digital contract data to remote security authorization module (RSAM) server that stores transactional data associated with the terminal system.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein employing a remote security authorization module (RSAM) server comprises subsequently transmitting the digital contract data from remote security authorization module (RSAM) server to a business object (BO) server validating the update of digital contract data.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the transmitting and receiving the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction in communication with a contract verification data server comprises transmitting the digital contract data to a standard transaction services server that stores transactional data associated with the terminal system validating the update of digital contract data.

38. An interface emulator apparatus for tendering transaction of an electronic ticket to a public rail transportation vehicle or bus transportation vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a. one or more processors; b. system memory; and c. an antenna used commonly to both receive a modulated Bluetooth (BT) signal and to transmit said generated Bluetooth (BT) signal; 242260/4 wherein said one or more processors is operable to execute the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to a standard rail or transport terminal within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompt a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system, and encode an application ID associated with and unique to an electronic contract management application resident at the mobile device; wherein said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system by employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system apparatus to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system; wherein said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system by employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data to the mobile device; wherein said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system by further using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application and updating the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to initiate the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system by receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be initiated.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to the initiate fund deduction verification process by verifying electronic funds deduction from the digital contract data for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to complete the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system by receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be completed. 242260/4

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to employ the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) resident at the rail station terminal system or transport terminal system to verify the ticketing transaction at the rail station terminal system in an off-line mode.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, the apparatus further comprising: a. one or more processors; b. system memory; and c. an antenna used commonly to both receive a modulated Bluetooth (BT) signal and to transmit said generated Bluetooth (BT) signal; wherein said one or more processors is operable to execute the Bluetooth (BT) module to generate a one-time per-use communication encryption Bluetooth (BT) tag payload communicating it via wired and/or wireless serial communication to the standard public transportation validator within range of a generated Bluetooth (BT) communication, prompt a hardware identification medium (HIM) comprising a local security authorization module (LSAM) either being resident at the interface emulator apparatus and encode an application ID associated with and unique to an mobile contract management application resident at the mobile device; wherein said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator by employing the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) being resident at the interface emulator apparatus to verify the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator system; wherein said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator by employing the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to link the digital contract data (DCD) to the mobile device; wherein said one or more processors is operable to tender the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator by further using the application ID associated with the electronic contract management application to initiate fund deduction verification process from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction as corresponding to the electronic contract management application and updating the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction on the mobile device. 242260/4

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to initiate the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator by receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be initiated.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to the initiate fund deduction verification process by verifying electronic funds deduction from the digital contract data (DCD) for the ticketing transaction based on the transport data structures.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to complete the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator by receiving a communicating indication from an I/O peripheral that the ticketing transaction is to be completed.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said one or more processors is further operable to employ the hardware identification medium (HIM) associated with a local security authorization module (LSAM) being resident at the interface emulator apparatus to verify the ticketing transaction at the public transportation validator system in an offline mode.