JP2020135444A - Fare adjustment system and portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable a fare adjustment system through use of a portable information terminal to immediately calculate and display a fare amount on the side of an on-vehicle fare adjustment device or a fare adjustment device installed at a destined station.SOLUTION: Get-on position information indicating a get-on position is displayed by an information code on an information code display device 3 installed in the vicinity of an entrance door of a vehicle 2, and is caused to be read by a portable information terminal 10 held by a user 1. The portable information terminal 10 generates and displays an information code including get-on position information of the read information code and identification information that specifies a registered individual targeted for settlement. When the user holds the portable information terminal 10 over a fare adjustment device 5 when getting off the vehicle, the fare adjustment device 5 reads the information code to calculate and display a fare amount on the basis of the get-on position information and get-off position information indicating the current place where the user gets off the vehicle, and transmits the fare amount and the identification information to a cloud server 7 to request a determination as to whether or not to permit settlement. When a result of the determination as to whether or not to permit settlement is received, the fare adjustment device 5 completes fare adjustment in a case where settlement is permitted, and in a case where settlement is not permitted, notifies that.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a fare settlement system for passenger transportation by means of transportation such as a fixed-route bus or railroad, and a mobile information terminal used therein.

There are two types of fixed-route buses currently operating in Japan: fixed-fare routes for all routes and routes whose fares change according to the boarding distance. In the former case, the fare is generally settled by having the passengers put the fare into the fare box when they board the fare, or by having the fare settlement machine touch the prepaid card (IC card).
In the latter case, when a passenger gets on board, a numbered ticket issuing machine installed near the boarding gate issues a numbered ticket printed with a number indicating the stop or section, which is the boarding position information, and asks the passenger to remove it. Then, the fare amount corresponding to each number is displayed on the fare amount display provided in an easily visible position in the car, and when the passenger gets off, the fare amount corresponding to the numbered ticket number is installed near the driver's seat together with the numbered ticket. The fare box is put in and the payment is made.

Alternatively, when the passenger gets on board, the prepaid card is touched by a card processor installed near the boarding gate, the unique number registered in the card is read and sent to the fare box, and the unique number is sent to the fare box at that time. It is stored in correspondence with the boarding place information. Then, when the passenger gets off, the fare settlement machine attached to the fare box touches the prepaid card, and the fare settlement machine reads the card's unique number and balance amount, and stores it in correspondence with the unique number. It is also possible to calculate the fare amount from the boarding place information and the current location (getting off place) information and display it, and write the amount obtained by subtracting the amount from the balance amount on the prepaid card to settle the fare.
If the balance amount read by the fare settlement machine is less than the calculated fare amount, the fare amount will be notified by display or voice, and the prepaid card will be additionally charged and then retouched, or the fare amount will be cashed. Have them put in the box.
These payments are confirmed and managed by the bus driver.

Regarding the fare of the railway, in the case of a one-man car, the same method as the route bus mentioned above can be adopted, but in general, passengers are asked to pay the fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station in advance to purchase a ticket, or Suica. A payment method is adopted in which the fare is settled at an automatic ticket gate using a prepaid card (IC card) such as (registered trademark) or PASMO (registered trademark) (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-252896 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-293867

However, using a numbered ticket or a ticket is not only complicated, but also easily lost, resulting in a loss of paper resources. In addition, prepaid cards tend to run out of balance, and charging is troublesome.
In recent years, most people have mobile information terminals such as smartphones, so cashless payment using the mobile information terminals is recommended and adopted in various fields such as product sales and service provision. It's coming.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an attempt has been made to introduce cashless payment using a mobile information terminal for fare settlement of transportation.
For example, a monorail operator is conducting a demonstration experiment of the following fare settlement system.

When a passenger enters the boarding station yard, a reader unit that displays a two-dimensional code containing ID information that identifies the individual to be settled registered in advance on the mobile information terminal possessed by the passenger and installs it at the ticket gate of the boarding station. To read.
The ID information read by the reader unit and the boarding position information indicating the boarding station are transmitted to the server in the cloud environment. Even after the passenger enters the station yard and gets on the vehicle, the mobile information terminal maintains a state in which the two-dimensional code including the same ID information as when getting on the train can be displayed at the time of getting off.

When the passenger gets off and exits from the station yard, the two-dimensional code displayed on the screen of the mobile information terminal is read by the fare settlement device installed at the ticket gate of the station, and the read ID information is read. And the disembarkation position information indicating the disembarkation station is transmitted to the above server, and the calculation of the fare amount and the judgment of the settlement are requested.
The server calculates the fare amount from the boarding position information stored corresponding to the ID information and the received disembarkation position information, and obtains the credit card information or bank account information registered corresponding to the ID information. After confirming, if the fare amount can be withdrawn, it will be settled withdrawal, and if it cannot be withdrawn, the judgment result of NG will be transmitted to the fare settlement device together with the calculated fare amount.

The fare settlement device displays the fare amount, completes the fare settlement if the determination result is OK, and notifies that fact (alarm and gate closing, etc.) if it is NG. Thereby, the station staff collects the fare in cash or otherwise.
A QR code (registered trademark) is used as the two-dimensional code. The user (passenger) registers the ID information, credit card information, or bank account information in the above server in advance with the payment application of the mobile information terminal.

However, in such a fare settlement system, the fare amount is calculated by the server in the cloud environment, so it takes time to calculate the fare, and when the communication between the fare settlement device and the server becomes impossible, it is judged whether or not the fare can be settled. Not only the result but also the fare amount cannot be received. Therefore, the fare settlement device cannot display the fare amount, and the fare settlement by cash or other methods cannot be performed.
A similar problem will occur when such a system is diverted to a route bus fare settlement system.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a fare settlement system in which a fare is settled by using a mobile information terminal, the fare amount is immediately set on the vehicle-mounted or fare settlement device installed at the getting-off station. The purpose is to be able to calculate and display.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an information code display device installed near the entrance of a vehicle carrying a passenger, and a fare settlement device installed near the exit passage of the vehicle. Provide a fare settlement system.
The information code display device has an information code display means for displaying boarding position information indicating a position where a user is boarding with an information code and having a mobile information terminal held by the user at the time of boarding read the information code display means.
The fare settlement device is an information code reading means for reading an information code including the boarding position information and the registered identification information for identifying the individual to be settled, which is displayed by the mobile information terminal held by the passenger when getting off. , The fare amount calculation means for calculating the fare amount based on the above-mentioned boarding position information included in the information code read by the information code reading means and the disembarkation position information indicating the current location where the passenger gets off, and the fare amount calculation. A fare amount display means for displaying the fare amount calculated by the means, and a settlement possibility judgment requesting means for transmitting the fare amount and the identification information included in the read information code to the server to request the judgment of the settlement possibility. It has a fare settlement means that receives the settlement result from the above server, completes the fare settlement if the determination result is settlement, and notifies it if the determination result is settlement. It is characterized by.
The fare settlement device can be installed in the fare box conventionally installed on the route bus.

In addition, both are installed at the station and have an information code display device installed at the entrance gate that the passenger passes through before getting on the vehicle, and a fare settlement device installed at the exit gate that the passenger passes through after getting off the vehicle. It also provides a fare settlement system equipped with.
The information code display device has an information code display means that displays boarding station information indicating a station on which the entrance gate is installed by an information code and causes a mobile information terminal held by a user to read the information code display means.
The fare settlement device uses an information code including the boarding position information and the registered identification information for identifying the individual to be settled, which is displayed by the mobile information terminal held by the passenger when passing through the exit gate. The fare for calculating the fare amount based on the information code reading means to be read, the boarding position information included in the information code read by the information code reading means, and the getting-off position information indicating the station where the exit gate is installed. It is characterized by having an amount calculation means, a fare amount display means similar to the fare settlement device of the system described above, a settlement availability determination request means, and a fare settlement means.
The entrance gate and the exit gate may be configured as an integrated unit.

The mobile information terminal used in these fare settlement systems includes an identification information registration means for registering identification information for identifying an individual to be settled, an information code reading means for reading an information code displayed by the above information code display device, and an information code reading means. An information code generating means for generating a new information code including the boarding position information based on the information code read by the information code reading means and the identification information registered by the identification information registration means, and the information code generating means are generated. It is characterized by having an information code display means for displaying the displayed information code.

According to the fare settlement system according to the present invention, the fare can be settled cashlessly using a mobile information terminal. Moreover, since the fare amount that differs depending on the boarding distance can be immediately calculated and displayed on the vehicle-mounted or fare settlement device installed at the station where the passenger gets off, the fare amount when the passenger gets off or tries to pass through the exit gate (ticket gate). In the unlikely event that communication between the fare settlement device and the server becomes impossible, the fare can be settled in cash or by other means.

For the calculation of the fare amount with the fare settlement device, the software currently used in the fare box on the route bus and the automatic ticket gate at the station can be used almost as it is, so the development cost can be reduced. It is possible to easily respond to fare revisions and route changes as before.
It is also possible to display the name of the bus stop or station on the passenger's mobile information terminal, which improves convenience.
Furthermore, since the boarding position information of each passenger, the getting-off position information, and the boarding / alighting data such as the fare amount can be accumulated and stored in the fare settlement device, it can be immediately used for improving the efficiency of operation. is there.

It is a schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment when the fare settlement system by this invention is applied to a route bus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structure example of the information code display device 3 in FIG. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the functional configuration example of the information code display device 3. It is a figure which shows the example of the QR code which is a two-dimensional code as an example of an information code. It is a flow chart which shows an example of the process which CPU 301 shown in FIG. 2 execute in order to realize the function of the information code display means 30 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware composition example of the fare settlement apparatus 5 in FIG. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the functional configuration example of the fare settlement apparatus 5. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of processing executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 6 in order to realize the functions of each means of the fare settlement device 5 shown in FIG. 7. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structure example of the mobile information terminal 10 in FIG. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the functional structure example which concerns on this invention of a mobile information terminal 10. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of processing executed by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 9 in order to realize the functions of each means of the mobile information terminal 10 shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment when the fare settlement system by this invention is applied to a railroad.

Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The fare settlement system according to the present invention does not use a ticket (ticket), a numbered ticket, a prepaid card, etc., but allows the mobile information terminal owned by the user to have a numbered ticket function, and the fare box side of the vehicle when getting off. Alternatively, the fare amount can be immediately calculated and displayed on the station affairs machine (ticket gate, etc.) of the getting-off station.

Here, the terms used in this specification are defined.
The "information code" represents various types of information with symbols based on an optically readable image pattern, and is a bar code in which white modules and black modules with different light reflectances are arranged in one dimension and arranged in two dimensions. Two-dimensional codes are widespread. As the two-dimensional code, a QR code (registered trademark) as shown in FIG. 4 is often used. The QR code has a large amount of information that can be coded and can be read at high speed.
The "mobile information terminal" is a terminal device having a computer function that can be carried by a user, and is a general term for mobile phones such as smartphones, tablet terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and the like.

[Overview explanation when applied to a fixed-route bus]
First, an outline of an embodiment when the fare settlement system according to the present invention is applied to a route bus will be described with reference to FIG. The fare in this case is not a flat fare within the route, and the fare increases according to the boarding distance. This fare settlement system can be applied not only to fixed-route buses but also to trams and local railways when it is necessary to settle the fare according to the boarding distance or section in the vehicle.

The operation at each timing shown in FIG. 1 when using this fare settlement system will be sequentially described.
[1] Preparation before boarding The user 1 prepares to read the information code by launching an application for using this system on his / her own mobile information terminal 10 such as a smartphone.

[2] At the time of boarding The information code indicates the boarding position information indicating the position where the passenger is boarding on the display unit 306 of the information code display device 3 installed near the boarding gate of the vehicle 2 such as a bus carrying the passenger. It is displayed and read by the mobile information terminal 10 held by the passenger 1 when boarding. However, the passengers on board are allowed to board without any checks.

In the case of a fixed-route bus, the "position where passengers board" is a "stop" set in advance on the route, and the "boarding position information" is information that can identify a stop (a section including multiple stops). For example, the name of the bus stop or its number or section number.
In the illustrated example, the information code of the boarding position information is displayed as a QR code. This information code can also include information such as a route number, a date and time, and a company name of an operating company.
It is also possible to provide an information code display device 3 in the equipment of the bus stop so that the mobile information terminal 10 can read the boarding position information before the passenger gets on the bus.

[3] During boarding The mobile information terminal 10 has an information code (illustrated) including boarding position information based on the read information code and identification information (ID information) for identifying an individual to be settled registered in the terminal in advance. In the example, QR code) is generated and displayed. It is also possible to display the stop name indicated by the boarding position information read at the same time.
If the read information code includes information such as a route number, date, and time, an information code including such information can be generated and displayed.

[4] When getting off The passenger 1 who gets off holds a screen on which the information code of the mobile information terminal 10 is displayed on the information code reading unit 51 of the fare settlement device 5 installed near the getting-off passage of the vehicle (bus) 2. Then, the information code reading unit 51 reads the information code. The fare settlement device 5 calculates the fare amount based on the boarding position information included in the read information code and the disembarkation position information indicating the current location (the stop where the passenger currently stops) where the passenger gets off, and displays the fare amount on the display unit 52. indicate. At the same time, the fare amount and the identification information included in the read information code are transmitted to a server (hereinafter referred to as "cloud server") 7 in the cloud environment and transmitted to request a judgment as to whether or not payment is possible. The cloud server 7 is a predetermined (predetermined) server.

The "getting off position information" here is the same as the above-mentioned "boarding position information", and is information on the position where the passenger gets off. Since the stop where the vehicle 2 stops to get on and off the passenger is the same as the boarding position of the passenger who gets on here, the "getting off position information" while the passenger is getting on and off is displayed on the information code display device 3. It is the same as "boarding position information".

The cloud server 7 confirms the credit card information, bank account information, usage limit, etc. registered corresponding to the received identification information, determines whether or not the fare amount can be settled, and determines the determination result as the fare. It is transmitted to the settlement device 5.
In this example, a payment availability determination request and the determination result are transmitted and received between the fare settlement device 5 and the cloud server 7 via the radio 6 and the Internet.
In addition to the radio 6, a guidance broadcasting device is also provided, and by operating a button of a feed switch, guidance broadcasting such as the name of the next stop is performed using the guidance data stored in advance. In addition, the crew can use the attached microphone to broadcast the guidance with their own voice.

The functions of the cloud server 7 are the same as those of the server used in various currently available cashless payment systems such as LINE Pay (registered trademark) and Rakuten Pay (registered trademark). When the cloud server 7 is shared by a plurality of bus companies, the fare settlement device 5 also transmits the company identification information when requesting the cloud server 7 to determine whether or not to settle the payment, and the fare amount settled by the cloud server 7 is used by the company. Aggregate each and make it possible to settle between companies.

The in-vehicle fare settlement device 5 receives the settlement result from the cloud server 7, completes the fare settlement if the determination result is settlement, and displays and / or voices if the settlement is rejected. Inform and request fare payment by other methods such as cash or prepaid card. In that case, the crew will handle the fare collection. In this example, the fare settlement device 5 also serves as the fare box that has been conventionally mounted near the driver's seat of the route bus, and is provided with a fare input port 53 and a currency exchange device.
The fare settlement device 5 can store and store the boarding position information of each passenger, the boarding / alighting position information, and the boarding / alighting data including the fare amount in a memory such as a built-in HDD.

The cloud server is an example, and various servers such as a thin client server, a VPS (Virtual Private Server), a host server, and other shared servers can be used.
This fare settlement system can also be applied to railways, new transportation systems, ropeways, etc. where the fare is settled in the car by one-man operation or unmanned operation, and in that case unmanned stations or stations without ticket gates are also "stops". Can be included. Further, when a passenger can get on and off at a desired place on a community bus or the like, the boarding / alighting place can be regarded as a stop. In that case, the boarding position and the getting-off position can be specified from the GPS information and the map information.

This fare settlement system includes an information code display device 3 installed near the entrance of the vehicle 2 such as a bus, and a fare settlement device 5 installed near the exit passage of the vehicle 2. These will be described in more detail.
[Information code display device]
A configuration example of the information code display device 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the information code display device 3, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example thereof.

The information code display device 3 shown in FIG. 2 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a communication I / F (interface) 304, a non-volatile memory 305, and a display unit 306, which are connected by a system bus 307. There is.
Then, the CPU 301 controls the entire information code display device 3 by executing the program stored in the ROM 302 with the RAM 303 as the work area, and realizes the function described later with reference to FIG.

The information code display device 3 is a device that displays boarding position information indicating a passenger's boarding position (stop) with an information code and causes the mobile information terminal held by the passenger to read the information shown in FIG. It has a code display means 30.
The information code display means 30 includes a boarding position information output unit 31, an information code generation unit 32, and an information code display unit 33.
The boarding position information output unit 31 sequentially stores each stop name or its number for each route in the non-volatile memory 305 shown in FIG. 2, and before arriving at the next stop, the boarding position information switching signal By inputting, the boarding position information of the next stop or station is output.

The boarding position information switching signal is automatically input when the crew member operates a button, for example, in the driver's seat, in conjunction with the guidance broadcasting device starting the guidance broadcasting of the next stop or station. Since the boarding position information at this time is the same as the disembarkation position information used by the fare settlement device 5, it may be directly input from the guidance broadcasting device, the fare settlement device 5, or the like.
The information code generation unit 32 acquires the boarding position information output from the boarding position information output unit 31 and codes it to generate an information code (QR code in this example).
The information code display unit 33 displays the information code generated by the information code generation unit 32 on a display such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display of the display unit 306 shown in FIG.

In order to realize the function of the information code display means 30, the process executed by the CPU 301 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
The process of FIG. 5 starts when the crew decides the route and activates the fare settlement system when the bus starts operating.
First, the CPU 301 acquires the first bus stop number as boarding position information in step S11.
Then, the information code of the boarding position information is generated in step S12, and the information code of the generated boarding position (in this case, the first bus stop) is displayed in step S13.

The CPU 301 continues to display the same information code until it is determined that the boarding position information switching signal has been input in step S14, and when it is determined that the boarding position information switching signal has been input, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S15 to acquire the next stop number. To do.
Then, in step S16, it is determined whether or not the acquired stop number is the final stop number, and if not, the process returns to step S12, and the processing of each subsequent step is repeated. That is, the information code of the next stop is generated and displayed, and the input of the boarding position information switching signal is awaited.
Therefore, the information code of the same boarding position is continuously displayed until the next boarding position information switching signal is input, and the information code is read by the mobile information terminal when the passenger gets on the board.

When the bus passes through a stop where there are no passengers without stopping, the boarding position information switching signal is input when the crew member operates the button while driving the bus to start the guidance broadcast of the next stop. Will be done. As a result, the CPU 301 acquires the next stop number, generates an information code for the next boarding position (stop), and displays it.
If you stop at a bus stop, open the bus door, and let a passenger board, after closing the door and departing, when the crew operates a button to start the guidance broadcast for the next bus stop, the boarding position information switching signal will be output. Entered. As a result, the information code of the next boarding position (stop) is displayed to prepare for the passenger boarding at the next stop.
In the above description, the boarding position information is used as the number of the bus stop on which the passenger boarded, but the bus stop name, the identification code corresponding to each bus stop, or the code of the section including a plurality of bus stops may be used.

[Fare settlement device]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the fare settlement device 5, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example thereof. The fare settlement device 5 of this embodiment also serves as a fare box conventionally installed near the driver's seat of the one-man bus, but the illustration and description of the configuration of the part peculiar to the fare box will be omitted.

The fare settlement device 5 shown in FIG. 6 includes a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, a communication unit 504, an HDD (hard disk drive) 505 which is a large-capacity non-volatile memory, an information code reading unit 51, and a display unit 52. It is connected by a bus 506.
Then, the CPU 501 controls the entire fare settlement device 5 by executing the program stored in the ROM 502 with the RAM 503 as the work area, and realizes the function described later using FIG. 7.

The communication unit 504 communicates with the radio 6 shown in FIG. 1, sends a payment approval / disapproval determination request to the cloud server 7 via the radio 6, and receives the determination result.
The HDD 505 stores the names and numbers (codes) of each stop for each line in order, and stores triangular table data indicating the fare amount for the combination of the boarding position information and the getting-off position information for each line. In addition, boarding / alighting position information and disembarkation position information and fare amount for each user who have settled, or boarding / alighting data such as the settlement date and time can be accumulated and recorded.

The information code reading unit 51 is a part that reads the information code displayed on the mobile information terminal held by the user before getting off, and is used for an optical lens, an image sensor, and lighting similar to a general QR code reader. It is equipped with a light emitting diode.
The display unit 52 includes a display such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display, and displays a fare amount, a message, or the like. In addition to this, it is preferable to provide a sound generating unit that generates electronic sounds and voices.

As shown in FIG. 7, the functions of the fare settlement device 5 are an information code reading means 511, a disembarkation position information output unit 512, a fare amount calculation means 513, a fare amount display means 514, a settlement possibility determination request means 515, and a fare settlement. It has means 516. The fare settlement means 516 includes a notification means 517 that notifies the user that automatic payment cannot be made by display, electronic sound, voice, or the like.
FIG. 6 shows an information code of the information code reading means 511, which is displayed by the mobile information terminal 10 held by the user when the passenger gets off, including the boarding position information and the registered identification information for identifying the individual to be settled. The information code reading unit 51 optically reads the code data and decodes the code data to acquire boarding position information and identification information.

The disembarkation position information output unit 512 outputs a number or code indicating a stop where the passenger gets off as disembarkation position information. This disembarkation position information is also switched to a number indicating the next stop at the same time as the above-mentioned boarding position information by inputting the disembarkation position information switching signal. The boarding position information switching signal and the disembarking position information switching signal are the same signal, and are switched before the vehicle 2 stops at the next stop. The disembarkation position information output by the disembarkation position information output unit 512 and the boarding position information output by the boarding position information output unit 31 of the information code display device 3 described above are the same (numbers or codes indicating the same stop).

The fare amount calculation means 513 includes boarding position information (information indicating a stop on which the passenger has boarded) included in the information code read by the information code reading means 511 and disembarkation position information (disembarkation position information output from the disembarkation position information output unit 512). The fare amount is calculated from the above-mentioned triangular table data based on the information indicating the stop where the passenger gets off).
The fare amount display means 514 displays the fare amount calculated by the fare amount calculation means 513 on the display unit 52 shown in FIG.
The settlement availability determination requesting means transmits the fare amount and the identification information included in the information code read by the information code reading means 511 to the cloud server 7 via the radio 6 shown in FIG. Request the judgment of.

The fare settlement means 516 receives the determination result of whether or not the settlement is possible from the cloud server 7 via the radio 6, and completes the fare settlement if the determination result is the settlement. At this time, the display unit 52 may display that the payment has been completed, or may generate an electronic sound such as "ping pong". If the judgment result is payment failure, the fare amount display may be changed to a flashing red display by the notification means 517, or a voice such as "Insufficient balance" may be heard by cash or other method (prepaid card, etc.). Notifies you asking for fare payment at. As a result, the crew collects the fare of the amount displayed on the display unit 52 from the passenger by cash or other means.
Since it is not necessary to calculate the fare in the cloud server 7, its function is the server used in various conventional systems for cashless payment of goods sales and service provision using a mobile information terminal. Since it is the same, the description thereof will be omitted.

In order to realize each function of the fare settlement device 5, the process executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
The process of FIG. 8 starts when the crew decides the route and activates the fare settlement system when the bus starts operating.

First, the CPU 501 acquires the first bus stop number as the getting-off position information in step S201. Next, the CPU 501 determines whether or not the disembarkation position information switching signal has been input in step S202, and if not, proceeds to step S204 to determine the detection of the information code. Then, when the screen on which the information code of the mobile information terminal 10 held by the user is displayed is held by the information code reading unit 51 as shown in FIG. 1, the information code is detected and the information is detected in step S205. Read the code.

However, since passengers do not normally get off at the first bus stop, the mobile information terminal 10 should not be held, so the process returns from step S204 to step S202, and the getting-off position information switching signal is input. Until then, the determinations in steps S202 and S204 are repeated.
However, if the passenger gets on the wrong route and gets off as it is, if the screen displaying the information code of the mobile information terminal 10 is held by the information code reading unit 51, the CPU 501 steps. The information code is detected in S204, and the information code is read in step S205.

Then, in step S206, the fare amount is calculated based on the fare amount table data based on the boarding position information included in the information code read in step S205 and the currently acquired disembarkation position information, and the fare amount is displayed in step S207. To do. However, in this case, since the boarding position information and the getting-off position information are the same for the number of the first bus stop, the displayed fare amount is 0 yen.
Therefore, the CPU 501 determines in step S208 whether or not the fare amount is 0 yen, and if it is 0 yen, proceeds to step S214 to determine whether or not the operation ends, and if not, returns to step S202 and described above. Repeat the process.

When the disembarkation position information switching signal is input after the vehicle departs, the CPU 501 determines it in step S202, proceeds to step S203, and acquires the next stop number as the disembarkation position information. Then, since the vehicle stops at the next stop and the passengers get off, when the screen displaying the information code of the owned mobile information terminal 10 is held over the information code reading unit 51, the CPU 501 detects it in step S204. Then, in step S205, the code information is read.

Next, in step S206, the fare amount is calculated based on the fare amount table data based on the boarding position information included in the information code read in step S205 and the currently acquired disembarkation position information, and the fare amount is displayed in step S207. To do. In this case, the boarding position information is the first stop number and the getting-off position information is the next stop number, so the fare amount calculated will be a predetermined amount according to the distance between the two stops, and at 0 yen Since there is no such thing, the CPU 501 determines in step S208 that it is not (N), and proceeds to the processing in step S209 and thereafter.

In step S209, the fare amount calculated in step S206 and the identification information included in the information code read in step S205 are transmitted to the cloud server 7 via the radio 6 shown in FIG. 1 to determine whether or not payment is possible. To request.
Then, the CPU 501 waits for the reception of the determination result from the cloud server 7 in step S210, and when it receives the determination result, determines whether or not the determination result can be settled in step S211. If the settlement is possible, the process proceeds to step S212 to settle the fare. When completed, the boarding / alighting data is stored and stored in the HDD 505 shown in FIG. At this time, it is advisable to change the fare amount display of the display unit 52 to a display such as payment completed.

If it is determined in step S211 that payment is not possible (impossible), the process proceeds to step S213 to notify the user. For example, the fare amount display is displayed in blinking red, or an electronic sound or voice is emitted to request fare payment by cash or other method (prepaid card, etc.). Thereby, the crew will collect the fare for the passenger in cash or otherwise indicated.
After that, the CPU 501 returns to step S202 and repeats the subsequent processing until it is determined that the crew member has instructed the crew to end the operation in step S214. When the instruction to end the operation is received, the processing of this flow is terminated.
After the crew confirms that all users (passengers) have disembarked at the terminal stop, they will instruct the end of operation by operating a switch or the like.

The CPU 501 performs the processes after step S204 while maintaining the same disembarkation position information until the disembarkation position information switching signal (same as the boarding position information switching signal described above) is input. When the disembarkation position information switching signal is input, it is determined in step S202, the process proceeds to step S203, the next stop number is acquired as the disembarkation position information, and then the processing after step S204 is performed.

When the vehicle starts the operation of the return route in which the vehicle travels on the same route as the outward route in the opposite direction, the CPU 501 first acquires the first bus stop number as the disembarkation position information in step S201 when the process of FIG. 8 is started. The number of the bus stop. After that, every time the disembarkation position information switching signal is input, in step S203, the next stop number is acquired as the disembarkation position information so as to reverse from the terminal stop number on the outbound route.

[Mobile information terminal]
Next, the mobile information terminal 10 used in this fare settlement system will be described. It can use various commercially available personal digital assistants, but smartphones (registered trademarks) are easy to use.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the mobile information terminal 10 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example according to the present invention.

The mobile information terminal 10 shown in FIG. 9 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a non-volatile memory 104, a communication unit 105, an operation unit 106, a display unit 107, and a camera unit 108, which are connected by a system bus 109. are doing.
Then, the CPU 101 controls the entire mobile information terminal 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 102 with the RAM 103 as a work area, and realizes a function described later with reference to FIG.

The non-volatile memory 104 stores identification information that identifies an individual to be settled, that is, ID information associated with a credit card number, a bank account number, or the like, which is registered in advance.
The communication unit 105 is a communication unit for performing various communications such as telephone communication, e-mail communication, and Internet communication.
The operation unit 106 is a touch panel arranged on the screen of a key switch or the like for the user to perform various inputs and operations such as instruction / selection, or a display such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display of the display unit 107. ..
The camera unit 108 is a device including an optical lens for taking a photograph or a moving image, an image sensor, and the like, and is also used for reading the information code in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, the function of the portable information terminal 10 according to the present invention includes identification information registration means 111, information code reading means 112, information code generation means 113, and information code display means 114. This function is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 9 executing the application program for fare settlement.

In order for the user (owner) to enable cashless payment, the identification information registration means 111 previously cloud ID information associated with a credit card or a bank account as identification information for identifying an individual to be settled. It is a means to register in the memory of the server and own machine. This is the same as the registration function in the apps of each company that currently offers cashless payment services, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

The information code reading means 112 is displayed when the user holds the camera unit 108 of the portable information terminal 10 toward the display unit 306 of the information code display device 3 shown in FIG. 1 when the user gets on the vehicle. It is a means to detect and read the information code, decodes the captured information code, and reads the boarding position information (boarding stop number) and other information (route name, date and time, company name, etc.) if any. When the information code reading means 112 reads the information code displayed on the display unit 306 of the information code display device 3, the image of the information code can be displayed on the screen of the display unit 107 on the monitor.

The information code generation means 113 generates a new information code (QR code in this example) including at least the identification information registered in the identification information registration means 111 and the boarding position information read by the information code reading means 112. If other information is also read, an information code including them is generated.
Various means (programs) for inputting various types of information to generate information codes such as QR codes and barcodes have been conventionally provided.

The information code display means 114 displays the information code generated by the information code generation means 113 on the display unit 107 shown in FIG. When the information code reading means 112 is reading the name of the bus stop, the name of the bus stop can be displayed together with the information code. In that case, the bus stop name and station name can be displayed by referring to the pre-registered list from the coded information without directly reading the bus stop name and station name.
In order to save energy, the display of the information code or the like may disappear after a certain period of time to enter the sleep state, and return to the display state when the user performs some key operation or touches the touch panel.

In order to realize the function of each means of the mobile information terminal 10, the process executed by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. This process does not include the function of the identification information registration means 111.
The process of FIG. 11 starts when the user having the mobile information terminal 10 launches an application for using this fare settlement system.

When the CPU 101 starts this process, it waits for the information code display device 3 shown in FIG. 1 to detect the information code displayed in step S31. When the user brings the camera unit 108 of the mobile information terminal 10 close to the display 306 of the information code display device 3 at the time of boarding, the information code displayed there is detected, and the process proceeds to step S32 to read the information code. .. Then, at least the boarding position information (boarding stop number) included in the information code is acquired. At that time, the display unit 107 of the mobile information terminal 10 can be used as a monitor to display the information code to be read.

Next, in step S33, the CPU 101 generates a new information code (QR code in this example) including at least the registered identification information and the boarding position information read in step S32. If other information is also read, an information code including them is generated.
Then, the newly generated information code is displayed on the display unit 107 shown in FIG. 9 in step S34. When the boarding stop name is read in step S32, the boarding stop name can be displayed together with the information code.

After that, the CPU 101 waits for the reading by the fare settlement device 5 to be completed when the passenger gets off in step S35, proceeds to step S36 when it is determined that the reading is completed, and generates the information read in step S32 and the information in step S33. Resets (erases) the entered information code and ends the process.

[Embodiment when applied to railways]
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment when the fare settlement system according to the present invention is applied to a railway.
This embodiment is almost the same as the embodiment applied to the above-mentioned route bus, but at each railway station, the entrance gate 8 that the passenger passes before getting on the vehicle and the entrance gate 8 that the passenger passes after getting off the vehicle An exit gate 9 to pass through is installed to form a ticket gate.
That is, the "station" in this embodiment is a fixed facility for vehicles to stop and get on and off passengers in transportation such as railroads, monorails, and new transportation systems, and is an entrance that passengers pass through before boarding. A facility with a gate and an exit gate that passes after getting off.

The entrance gate and the exit gate are generally configured as a flat integrated unit, in which a plurality of units are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals, and a ticket gate is formed by a pair of units. Then, the side facing when the passengers of each unit enter is the entrance gate 8, and the side facing when leaving is the exit gate 9.
The information code display device 13 in this embodiment is provided at the entrance gate 8, and the fare settlement device 15 is provided at the exit gate 9.

The operation at each timing shown in FIG. 12 when using this fare settlement system will be sequentially described.
[1] Preparation before boarding When entering the station building 11, the passenger 1 launches an application for using this system of a mobile information terminal 10 such as a smartphone that he / she owns, and prepares to read the information code.

[2] At the time of boarding In order to board the vehicle 20 on the desired route, the passenger 1 must pass through the entrance gate 8 installed at the station. At that time, the information code display device 13 provided at the entrance gate 8 displays the boarding position information indicating the boarding station, that is, the station where the entrance gate 8 is installed, with an information code (QR code in this example). ..
Therefore, the user 1 holds the mobile information terminal 10 over the display unit of the information code display device 13 at the time of admission, and reads the information code displayed there.
When a passenger passes through the entrance gate 8, he / she passes through without checking anything and gets on board.
This information code can also include information such as a route number, a date and time, and a company name of a railway company.

[3] During boarding The mobile information terminal 10 has a new information code (illustrated example) including the read boarding position information and identification information (ID information) for identifying an individual to be settled registered in the terminal in advance. Then, QR code) is generated and displayed. It is also possible to display the station name indicated by the boarding position information read at the same time.
If the read information code includes information such as a route number, date, and time, an information code including such information can be generated and displayed.

[4] When a passenger who gets off passes through the exit gate 9 of the exit station, the information code of the mobile information terminal 10 is displayed on the information code reading unit of the fare settlement device 15 provided at the exit gate 9. When the screen is held over, the information code reading unit of the fare settlement device 15 reads the information code.
The fare settlement device 15 calculates the fare amount based on the boarding position information included in the read information code and the disembarking position information indicating the station where the exit gate 9 is installed, and displays it on the display unit. Then, the fare amount and the identification information included in the read information code are transmitted to the cloud server 7 via the monitoring device 17 to request a determination of whether or not payment is possible.
The monitoring device 17 is a device that monitors a large number of entrance gates 8 and exit gates 9 installed in the same station, and also has a communication function with each fare settlement device 15 and a cloud server 7.

The cloud server 7 confirms the credit card information and the bank account information registered corresponding to the received identification information, determines whether or not the fare amount can be settled, and determines the determination result via the monitoring device 17. It is transmitted to the fare settlement device 15 that has requested the determination of settlement.
In this example, a settlement availability determination request and the determination result are transmitted and received between the fare settlement device 15 and the cloud server 7 via the monitoring device 17 and the Internet. The function of the cloud server 7 is the same as the currently available servers for performing various cashless payments.

The fare settlement device 15 provided at the exit gate 9 receives the settlement availability determination result from the cloud server 7, completes the fare settlement if the determination result is settlement, and displays it if the settlement is rejected. And / or notify by electronic sound or voice and request fare payment by cash or other means. In that case, the fare will be collected in the passage where the station staff is. In that case, it is advisable to operate the arm or the door to close the passage of the exit gate 9 and prevent the passage of each use.
The boarding / alighting position information, the getting-off position information, and the boarding / alighting data including the fare amount of each passenger can be stored and stored in the memory in the fare settlement device 15.

The hardware and functional configuration of the information code display device 13 in this embodiment is substantially the same as the hardware and functional configuration of the information code display device 3 described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. However, since the information code display device 13 is provided at the entrance gate 8 installed at the station, the boarding position information is the station name or station number (code) where the entrance gate 8 is installed, and there is no need to switch.

Therefore, it is not necessary to input the boarding position information switching signal, and the boarding position information output unit 31 is set to always output the boarding position information indicating the station where the own machine is installed, and the information code is the information code. It is generated by the generation unit 32 and displayed by the information code display unit 33.
Therefore, although the information code displayed by the information code display device 13 is always the same, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by adding changing information such as the date and time in addition to the boarding position information.
Of course, the boarding position information of the information code displayed by the information code display device 13 provided at the entrance gate 8 of the different station is different.

The hardware and functional configuration of the fare settlement device 15 in this embodiment are substantially the same as the hardware and functional configuration of the fare settlement device 5 described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. However, since the fare settlement device 15 is provided at the exit gate 9 installed at the station, the disembarkation position information is the station name or station number (code) where the exit gate 9 is installed, and there is no need to switch.
Therefore, it is not necessary to input the disembarkation position information switching signal, and the disembarkation position information output unit 512 is set to always output the disembarkation position information indicating the station where the own aircraft is installed, and always outputs the same disembarkation position information. It is output to the fare amount calculation means 513. Of course, the disembarkation position information output by the disembarkation position information output unit 512 of the fare settlement device 15 provided at the exit gate 9 of the different station is different.

The configuration and function of the mobile information terminal 10 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.
The fare settlement system of this embodiment is not limited to general railway lines, but the fare amount differs depending on the boarding distance such as subway, monorail, new transportation system, etc., and the gate (ticket gate) installed in the station building is used for passengers. It can be applied to various passenger transportation systems that pass through.

The fare settlement system according to the present invention can settle the fare cashlessly by using a mobile information terminal when transporting passengers by means of transportation such as a fixed-route bus or railroad. Moreover, since the fare amount that differs depending on the boarding distance can be immediately calculated and displayed by the fare settlement device installed in the vehicle or at the exit station, the fare amount when the passenger gets off or tries to pass through the exit gate (ticket gate). In the unlikely event that communication between the fare settlement device and the server becomes impossible, the fare can be easily collected by cash or other methods.

In addition, as the fare calculation software, the fare calculation software that has been used in the fare box on the car and the automatic ticket gates installed at stations can be used almost as it is, so the development cost can be reduced and the fare can be easily revised. I can handle it.
It is also possible to display the name of the bus stop or the name of the station on the mobile information terminal while the passenger is on board, which improves convenience.
Since daily passenger boarding / alighting data can be stored and stored in the fare settlement device installed on-board or at the station where the train gets off, it can be immediately used for business analysis and timetable revision.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of each part of the embodiment, the content of the process, and the like are not limited to those described therein.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of each part of the embodiment, the content of the process, and the like are not limited to those described therein.
Further, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to anything other than having the technical features described in each claim of the claims.
Further, the configuration example, operation example, modification example, and the like of the above-described embodiments may be changed, added, or partially deleted as appropriate, and may be arbitrarily combined as long as they do not conflict with each other. ..

1: Passenger 2: Vehicle (bus) 3,13: Information code display device
5,15: Fare settlement device 6: Radio 7: Cloud server 8: Entrance gate
9: Exit gate 10: Mobile information terminal 11: Station building 17: Monitoring device
20: Vehicle (railroad vehicle)

Claims (3)

A fare settlement system including an information code display device installed near the entrance of a vehicle carrying a passenger and a fare settlement device installed near the exit passage of the vehicle.
The information code display device is
It has an information code display means that displays boarding position information indicating the position where the passenger is boarding with an information code and causes the mobile information terminal held by the passenger to read when boarding.
The fare settlement device is
An information code reading means for reading an information code displayed by the mobile information terminal held by the user when the passenger gets off, including the boarding position information and the registered identification information for identifying the individual to be settled.
A fare amount calculation means for calculating a fare amount based on the boarding position information included in the information code read by the information code reading means and the disembarkation position information indicating the current location where the passenger gets off.
A fare amount display means for displaying the fare amount calculated by the fare amount calculation means, and
A settlement availability determination requesting means for transmitting the fare amount and the identification information included in the read information code to a predetermined server to request a settlement approval / disapproval determination.
A fare settlement means that receives the settlement result from the server, completes the fare settlement if the determination result is settlement, and notifies the fare settlement if the determination result is settlement.
A fare settlement system characterized by having. Both are equipped with an information code display device installed at the station and installed at the entrance gate where the passenger passes before getting on the vehicle, and a fare settlement device installed at the exit gate where the passenger passes after getting off the vehicle. It is a fare settlement system
The information code display device is
It has an information code display means that displays boarding position information indicating the station where the entrance gate is installed with an information code and allows the user to read it by a mobile information terminal held at the time of entry.
The fare settlement device is
An information code reading means for reading an information code including the riding position information and registered identification information for identifying an individual to be settled, which is displayed by the mobile information terminal held by the user when passing through the exit gate. ,
A fare amount calculation means for calculating a fare amount based on the boarding position information included in the information code read by the information code reading means and the disembarkation position information indicating the station where the exit gate is installed.
A fare amount display means for displaying the fare amount calculated by the fare amount calculation means, and
A settlement availability determination requesting means for transmitting the fare amount and the identification information included in the read information code to a predetermined server to request a settlement approval / disapproval determination.
A fare settlement means that receives the settlement result from the server, completes the fare settlement if the determination result is settlement, and notifies the fare settlement result if the determination result is settlement.
A fare settlement system characterized by having. A mobile information terminal used for fare settlement in the fare settlement system according to claim 1 or 2.
An identification information registration means for registering identification information for identifying an individual to be settled, an information code reading means for reading the information code displayed by the information code display device, and the boarding with the information code read by the information code reading means. An information code generation means for generating a new information code including the position information and the identification information registered by the identification information registration means, and an information code display means for displaying the information code generated by the information code generation means. A mobile information terminal characterized by having.