AU2012100268A4 - A computer system and method for prepayment of a public transport system - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a computer implemented method (30) for prepayment for a public transport service. The method (30) includes receiving, at (32), 5 departure location information about a departure location and receiving destination information about a destination. At (42), the computer system determines cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination. The kiosk receives, at (44), payment from a user and dispenses, at (46), a voucher that is redeemable by the user 10 for using the public transport service. The invention also relates to a computer system for processing prepayment for a public transport service. The invention extends to a transport departure station, and a public transport vehicle that is equipped with a computer system for processing prepayment for a public transport service. TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY FIGURE 3

Description

1 A COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPAYMENT OF A PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to an electronic commerce computer system. In particular the invention relates to a computer system and a method for prepayment of a public transport service. In particular, the invention relates to a computer system and a computer implemented method for processing prepayments for a taxi service. 10 It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However, it is clearly to be understood that the invention can be applied in other applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 15 Public transport services providers, such as taxi service operators, sometimes bails taxi cabs to bailees (drivers). Unfortunately, there are occurrences in which the taxi bailees offer services to customers without declaring the service to their operators (Bailor), which may lead to loss of revenue for the taxi service operators. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the invention provides a computer implemented method for prepayment of a public transport service, the method including: receiving departure location information about a departure location; 25 receiving destination information about a destination; 2 determining cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination; receiving payment information based on the determined cost information; and 5 generating voucher information for a voucher that is redeemable for using the public transport service from the location to the destination. The method may include receiving the departure location information and the destination information from a user terminal system that includes a user interface for permitting a user to enter the departure location information 10 and the destination information. The method may include locating a user terminal system at a common departure location for vehicles that are used by the public transport system or inside a vehicle that is used by the public transport system. The method may include receiving the departure location information 15 and the destination information in the form of geographic coordinates that is in a format for processing by a road travel router application for determining an estimate travel time from the departure location to the destination. Determining cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination may include receiving service tariff 20 information from a public transport service provider and calculating the cost information as a function of the service tariff information and the estimate travel time. Determining cost information for using the public transport service may include determining an estimate distance from the departure location to the 25 destination, and calculating the cost as a function of the estimate distance.

3 Moreover, determining cost information for using the public transport service may include using a compound service tariff in which one tariff applies to a distance travelled and another tariff applies to an estimate standing or idle time of the vehicle. 5 Receiving service tariff information may include interrogating a service tariff database. The method may include periodically updating the service tariff database. In one embodiment, receiving service tariff information may include accessing the service tariff database with the user terminal system over a data communication network. 10 Receiving payment information may include receiving payment from a point of sale card reader, account card reader or cash reader that forms part of the user terminal system. Generating voucher information may include generating a unique voucher identifier, such as a voucher code, a smart card or any form of 15 electronic ticket. The invention also provides a computer system for prepayment of a public transport service, the computer system including: a user terminal system that includes a payment terminal and a voucher dispenser, the user terminal system being configured 20 for receiving departure location information about a departure location, for receiving destination information about a destination, for determining cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination, for receiving payment information with the payment terminal based on 25 the determined cost information; and 4 for generating voucher information for a voucher, which voucher is dispensed with the voucher dispenser and redeemable for using the public transport service from the location to the destination. The user terminal system may include a user interface for permitting a 5 user to enter the departure location information and the destination information. The user terminal system may be located at a common departure location for vehicles that are used by the public transport system or inside a vehicle that is used by the public transport system. The computer system may be configured for receiving the departure 10 location information and the destination information in the form of geographic coordinates for processing by a road travel router application for determining an estimate travel time from the departure location to the destination. The computer system may be configured for determining cost information by way of receiving service tariff information from a public 15 transport service provider and calculating the cost information as a function of the service tariff information and the estimate travel time. The computer system may include a service tariff database, and may be configured for interrogating a service tariff database. The computer system may be configured periodically to update the 20 service tariff database. In one embodiment, the computer system may be configured to access the service tariff database with the user terminal system over a data communication network. The payment terminal may include a card reader, account card reader or cash reader for receiving payment details.

5 The voucher dispenser may include a voucher printer for generating a voucher ticket that includes the voucher information which may include a unique voucher identifier, such as a voucher code. The invention further provides a computer program product that 5 includes computer readable instructions, which when executed by the computer system, performs the method as defined above. The invention extends to a public transport service departure station that includes a computer system for prepayment for a public transport service as defined above. 10 The invention extends further to a public transport service vehicle that includes a computer system for prepayment for a public transport service as defined above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 15 A computer system, in accordance with the invention, for prepayment of a public transport system may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient hereinafter to describe an embodiment of the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject 20 matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a computer system, in 25 accordance with the invention, for prepayment of a public transport service; 6 Figure 2 shows a schematic functional block diagram of a user terminal system that forms part of the computer system in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a functional flow diagram of a computer program product that forms part of the user terminal system in Figure 2. 5 In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a computer system, in accordance with the invention, for prepayment for a public transport service. In this embodiment, the computer system 10 is for use with a public transport service in the form of a taxi service. 10 The computer system 10 includes a plurality of user terminal systems 12 in the form of kiosks that are located at transport service departure stations, taxi ranks or inside taxi cabs. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the kiosk 12 includes a general purpose computer 17 having a microprocessor or central processing 15 unit (CPU), memory which can include read only memory (ROM) for carrying an operating system and built-in programs loaded at the time the kiosk is manufactured and/or configured. The memory can also include non-volatile memory such as electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) used for storing data and/or a microprocessor or computer 20 program products 24, 26 which are executed by the processor, which is explained in more detail below. The kiosk 12 further includes volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) used for temporary storage of data, and other peripherals such as a network interface for connecting to a data communication network 16.

7 The kiosk 12 further includes a payment terminal 20 in the form of a credit or debit card reader and a voucher dispenser 22 in the form of a voucher printer for printing voucher tickets or slips. Referring to Figure 3, a functional flow diagram of a computer 5 implemented method 30, in accordance with the invention, is shown. The computer program product 24 is executed, at 32. At 34, the kiosk 12 prompts a user on a user interface that includes menu options. At 36, the kiosk 12 receives departure location information about a departure location as well as destination location information about a destination location. In one 10 embodiment, the departure location information can be preconfigured to correspond with a location of the taxi rank at which the kiosk 12 is located. The user interface for entering departure location information and destination information can include an electronic geographic map application 26, for example Google Maps, which enables a user to select the locations. 15 The location information is then stored in a predetermined format and can include for example geographic coordinates of the locations. At 38, the kiosk prompts the user to select a taxi service. For example, a standard taxi, a silver service taxi or business class taxi, a maxi taxi or a wheelchair taxi. 20 At 40, the kiosk determines an estimate travelling distance from the departure location to the destination. That is, a road map router application 26 may be configured to determine the estimate distance as a function of road route information. Also, the road map router application is configured to determine information about when the vehicle is expected to be in motion and 8 when it is expected to stand still or idle for example at traffic controller lights on route, and the like. The kiosk 12 then determines, at 42, cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination, to 5 determine the taxi fare. The kiosk 12 determines the cost information by way of receiving service tariff information from a public transport service provider. In this embodiment, the service tariff is a compound tariff which includes one cost rate that is associated with when the vehicle is in motion, and another cost rate that is associated with an estimated stopping or idle time of the 10 vehicle on route. The service tariff information is received from a service tariff database 18 which can be local or distributed, as the case may be. In the case of a local database, the kiosk 12 is configured periodically to update the service tariff database 18. 15 At 44, the kiosk prompts a user to pay for the service, and receives payment information from the credit/debit/account card reader or cash reader 20. This can also include the use of such card technologies as radio frequency identification (RFID) or near field communication devices (NFC). The kiosk 12 then verifies payment, and if successful, generates voucher 20 information that includes a unique voucher code, and dispense, at 46, a voucher by printing a ticket with the voucher printer 22. The voucher can also include any form of electronic ticket (e-ticket). For example, a cash ticket, a smart card in the form of a contact card, contactless card or any combination of the two.

9 The kiosk 12 is useful for ensuring payment of services before a user makes use of the taxi service. It follows, that the kiosk 12 reduces operation risks that are associated with income for taxi owners and operators. It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by 5 way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. For example instead of embodying the system in a kiosk at a taxi rank it may be enabled in association with the information and communication 10 technology in the taxi itself so that it operates at any passenger pick up location. 15 20 25

Claims (5)

1. A computer implemented method for prepayment of a public transport service, the method including: 5 receiving departure location information about a departure location; receiving destination information about a destination; determining cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination; receiving payment information based on the determined cost 10 information; and generating voucher information for a voucher that is redeemable for using the public transport service from the location to the destination.

2. A computer implemented method for prepayment of a public transport 15 service as claimed in claims, further including locating a user terminal system at a common departure location for vehicles that are used by the public transport system or inside a vehicle that is used by the public transport system and wherein determining cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination includes 20 receiving service tariff information from a public transport service provider and calculating the cost information as a function of the service tariff information and an estimated travel time.

3. A computer implemented method for prepayment of a public transport 25 service as claimed in claim 2, wherein locating the user terminal system at a 11 common departure location for vehicles that are used by the public transport system or inside a vehicle that is used by the public transport system.

4. A computer system for prepayment of a public transport service, the 5 computer system including: a user terminal system that includes a payment terminal and a voucher dispenser, the user terminal system being configured for receiving departure location information about a departure location, for receiving destination information about a destination, 10 for determining cost information for using the public transport service from the departure location to the destination, for receiving payment information with the payment terminal based on the determined cost information; and for generating voucher information for a voucher, which voucher is 15 dispensed with the voucher dispenser and redeemable for using the public transport service from the location to the destination.

5. A computer system for prepayment of a public transport service as claimed in claim 4, wherein the user terminal system further includes: 20 a user interface for permitting a user to enter the departure location information and the destination information, the user terminal system is located at a common departure location for vehicles that are used by the public transport system or inside a vehicle that is used by the public transport system, and 25 wherein the payment terminal further includes: 12 a card reader, account card reader or cash reader for receiving payment details; and wherein the voucher dispenser further includes: a voucher printer for generating a voucher ticket that includes the 5 voucher information which includes a unique voucher identifier, such as a voucher code.