DE19623285A1 - Determination of data for goods or personal transport - Google Patents

Abstract

The transportation system determines the travel costs on the basis of a defined start point AP and a destination EP dependent upon the specific route that the vehicle travels. This may involve a number of specific terminal points K1,K2 that are in different travel sectors. Each route between points involves stages S1-Smax and these may vary throughout a day. Route coordinates and tariff data are stored in a data base and an electronic processing system determines the overall tariff for a specified journey.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for loading tuning and output of characteristic data for goods or Transport of people in electronic data processing processing system.

Usually the transport of goods or the Transport of people, especially by public transport local transport, but also in larger geographical areas Regions, e.g. B. in federal states, states or continents depending on different criteria celt. A gradual expansion of networks, or the Grouping of neighboring networks into one collective bargaining agreement can be fraught with significant problems. This be particularly affects route planning, the timetable design and tariff determination.

The problem underlying the present invention is a process of determining and issuing of characteristic data for the transport of goods or people give that for execution in an electroni suitable data processing system, and that the Kom complexity of determining the suitable transport routes, the (to be billed to a user) Transportko most, or the order of the transport to be used medium etc. reduced.

To solve this problem, the following will follow steps followed:

• - Acquisition of coordinates of possible geographical locations start and end points in an area where the goods or to transport people,  
• - Link the coordinates with a description of the respective geographic start or end point,
• - Save the coordinates and the designation as Record in a database, the name and / or who saved the coordinates as a search key the, and
• - Provision of the saved coordinates on Ab ask where the name and / or the coordina ten can be used as a search key.

Depending on the coordinates provided he follows the handling of the transport. This means that the Type of means of transport, route, trans port costs, or other sizes by the invention Procedure can be influenced.

Compared to previous approaches, the fiction The considerable advantage of the simple expandable networks and connectivity separate networks. Access to the individual items is relieved, with little effort in the computer (also from from the individual transport vehicles), and allows error-free use of the existing ones Resources.

The method according to the invention can preferably be operated The following steps include:

• - Enter a first name and / or the Koordi naten as a search key for a geographic starting point from which goods or people are transported should
• - Reading out the complete data set from the data base sis,
• - Enter a second name and / or the coordi naten as a search key for a geographic endpoint to which goods or people are to be transported,
• - Reading out the complete data set from the data base sis,  
• - Calculate the geographical distance from the two Records,
• - Using the geographic distance as a basis for the calculation of parameters for the transportation of Goods or people.

Before reading out the two data records from the database the following step is carried out:

• - Check whether a data record with the first and the second name is available in the database.

Instead of or in addition to the first and second loading Drawing can also use coordinates (tuples) or individual ones Coordinate values used for checking who the.

The coordinates are preferably of possible geographic start and end points in the area where the Goods or people are transported as Cartesian Coordinates recorded and saved. However, it is also possible, polar coordinates (distance from a specified Origin (OP) and angle (ϕ) to one by the Straight line).

When using Cartesian coordinates, the geographic distance (S) between the geographic starting and ending points is calculated using the coordinates (X _a , Y _a ; X _e , Y _e ) according to the formula

When using polar coordinates, the distance can be calculated according to the formulas
X = OP _* cos (ϕ); and
Y = OP _* sin (ϕ)
coordinates are converted into Cartesian coordinates.

The geometric distance is often only a parameter not meaningful enough for transport. Example The geometric distance between two points can be wise be very small. However, if the two places are on against overlying sides of a river lie between them There is no bridge in the immediate vicinity long detour to the next bridge to get from one place to another.

To take this into account accordingly, coordinates and possibly also names of nodes (K _i ) are stored in the database, which are included in the calculation of the geographical distance (S) in such a way that between the geographical starting point (AP) and a first node (K₁), if necessary between continuously running further nodes (K₂, K₃, K _n-1 , K _n ), and between a last node (K _m ) and the end point (EP) partial distances APK₁, K₁K₂, K₂K₃,. . . K _n-1 K _n , K _m EP averaged and added up according to the following formula:

This allows a correction (or approximation) of the geome trical distance to the actual path that a Transport vehicle travels.

In addition, the area in which the Gü Ter or passenger transport takes place in geographical Zones can be divided using the records of all possible geographical start and end points and / or kno a zone identifier is assigned to the points.

According to the invention can be further processed the geographic distance from the starting point to the ending point  (possibly via one or more nodes) as a criterion when selecting one or more means of transport a list maintained in a database Means of transport, to determine the transport price, or to determine the execution order of individual Transports from a group of transports used will.

The following factors are preferred when selecting one or more means of transport, when determining the transport price or when determining the order of execution of individual transports:
the affiliation of the start and end points and / or the nodes to certain or a minimum number of zones,
the time of the start of the transport and / or the expected duration of the transport,
the number of promotions already planned in the past or for the future, and / or
Properties of the goods to be transported or the person (s) to be transported,
taken into account in the form that these factors are evaluated according to predefined criteria, linked with the distance, and output as characteristic data.

According to the invention, it is determined depending on the Characteristics of the transport carried out by the transporting people and / or goods before the start of the transport with a the key data about the trans card containing the port.

The invention also relates to a computer readable Data base recorded for use implementation of the above procedure, with data records with the following elements in the database are included:

• - Name of a place
• - coordinates of the location.

In addition can

• - the belonging of the place to a zone, and / or
• - a sequential order identifier (No.) in each data sentence included. As a search key, depending on the Aus design of the process of each of the individual elements serve.

Further features, alternatives and advantages are explained on the basis of the following description, in which reference is made to FIGS. 1, 1a, 2, 3 and 4. The figures show different variants of the calculation of the distance from a starting point to an end point.

The process is explained using a local transport network tert, in which the invention calculated route data and tariff is communicated. However, it is also possible to use only the route or only to determine the tariff.

In a first stage, all locations (stops) of the Local transport network recorded with their coordinates, and in sorted in a database, the following data sentence structure is used:

[X-Coord.]; [Y-Coord.] [Location Name] [Zone] [Order ID]

The affiliation of a place to a certain zone and the order identifier (serial number) are optional. The size of the zones or their shape can either be the same in the entire local transport network or different depending on the actual local geographic conditions. In addition to the actual stops, nodes can be entered, which are used to calculate the route and the tariff. The nodes can actually be points on the route that are also approached by the means of transport or can only be used for calculation purposes (see FIG. 1a). The datasets of the nodes therefore have the same data structure as start points, end points or other locations used for the calculation.

During operation, the computer is then in the Ticket machines (in the individual means of transport), in ticket sales outlets (at the stops or Stations) can be accessed from this database.

A user of the local transport network who wants to get from the starting point AP to the end point EP (see FIG. 1) needs a ticket for this. The price of the ticket results from the air line distance from the starting point AP to the end point EP, with several nodes K1, K2, K3 being considered as intermediate stations. The entire distance S is then the sum of the sections s₁, s₂, s₃, s₄ between the individual points th.

Whether the means of transport (bus, tram, subway, S- Train) on its actually traveled route between can travel further distances to the individual points than for the further calculation of the tariff or the route irrelevant.

Because the individual points belong to one of the Zones Z₁, Z₂, Z₃ preferred routes can be determined. That means the direct distance between the beginning point AP and the node K₃ is shorter than that "Detour" through the nodes K₁, K₂. If from over agreed reasons the use of zone Z₂ (or avoiding another zone) is required (or that Do not drive through an adjacent local traffic area possible), the route is assigned to the zone influenced. However, the route can also be defined  by specifying certain points for the route happen.

The time of day can serve as a further parameter for determining the total route. This means that for example in the morning after a route from AP EP more and / or other stations is than in the afternoon (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). The total distance actually traveled can be used as a basis for tariff determination, that is, the sum of all partial routes s 1, s 2,. . . s _max . Alternatively, however, "only" the air line distance between the starting point AP and the node K₁, the node K₁ and the node K₂, and the node K₂ and the end point EP can be determined (see FIG. 4) and possibly with a " Form factor "must be multiplied to take account of the" detours ". This form factor can be uniform for the entire local traffic area or only apply to one or more of the zones.

In addition, the parameter "air distance between start and end point "also the simple touch consideration of other factors influencing the fare (e.g. basic price for the first kilometer, discount for children, Seniors, weekly, monthly, off-peak hours, Etc.). For example, based on the Total distance (S) following tariff calculation formula ver be applied:

Price: = ((basic price + ((S - 1km) _* km price)
- (((S discount threshold) / discount interval)
+ 1)
_* Distance discount factor) _* Price factor 1)
_* Discount factor 2)

The computer-compatible preparation of the entire Nahver Kehrsnetzes in the manner according to the invention in a Koordi system and the assignment of coordinates to the one individual points allows a particularly simple and trans  Parent design of the identifiable for the user sizes (route, fare) of the local transport network. This becomes more separate, especially in the merger Local transport networks clearly because of historically grown Local transport networks often form the basis for the Rou the two networks (and the one based on them) Pricing) are difficult to reconcile. As more objective However, the factor is the geographical distance between two Places an excellent foundation.

Claims (13)

1. Procedure for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system, characterized by the following steps:

• - Detection of coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) of possible geographic starting and ending points (AP, EP) in an area (G) in which the goods or people are to be transported,
• - Linking the coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) with a designation (N _i ) of the respective geographic start or end point (AP, EP),
• - Store the coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) and the designation (N _i ) as a data record (D _i ) in a database (DB), the designation (N _i ) and / or the coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) are stored as a search key, and
• - Providing the stored coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) for queries in which the designation (N _i ) and / or the coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) are used as a search key.

2. Method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system, in particular according to claim 1, characterized by the following steps:

• - Entering a first name (N _a ) and / or the coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) as a search key of a geographic starting point (AP) from which the goods or people are to be transported,
• - reading out the complete data set (D _a ) from the database,
• - Enter a second name (N _e ) and / or the coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) as a search key of a geographical end point (EP) to which goods or people are to be transported,
• - reading out the complete data set (D _e ) from the database,
• - Calculating the geographical distance (S) from the data records (D _a , D _e ),
• - Using the geographical distance (S) as the basis for calculating parameters for the transport of goods or people.

3. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the following step is carried out before reading out the two data sets ze (D _a , D _e ) from the database :

• - Check whether a data record (D _a , D _e ) with the first and the second designation (N _a , N _e ) is available in the database (DB).

4. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

• - Coordinates (X _i , Y _i ) of possible geographic start and end points (AP, EP) in a region within which the goods or people are to be transported are recorded and saved as Cartesian coordinates.

5. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to claim 4, characterized in that the calculation of the geographical distance (S) between the geographic starting and ending points (AP, EP) with the Coordinates (X _a , Y _a ; X _e , Y _e ) according to the formula he follows. 6. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• - In the database (DB) coordinates and names of nodes (K _i ) are stored, which are included in the calculation of the geographical distance (S) in such a way that between the geographic starting point (AP) and a first node (K₁ ), if necessary between consecutive further nodes (K₂, K₃, K _n-1 , K _n ), and between a last node (K _m ) and the end point (EP) partial distances (APK₁; K₁K₂; K₂K₃;.. K _{n -1} K _n ; K _m EP) are determined and added up according to the following formula:

7. The method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• - The area (G), in which the goods or passenger transport takes place, is divided into geographical zones (Z _g ) by the data records of all possible geographic starting and ending points (AP, EP) and / or nodes (K _i ) a zone identifier is assigned.

8. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• - The geographical distance (S) is used as a criterion when selecting one or more means of transport from a list of possible means of transport contained in a database (DB), for determining the transport price, or for determining the execution order of individual transports from a group of transports.

9. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• - When selecting one or more means of transport, when determining the transport price, or when determining the order of execution of individual transports, the following factors:
  • - the affiliation of the start and end points and / or the nodes to certain or a minimum number of zones,
  • - the time of the start of the transport and / or the expected duration of the transport,
  • - the number of promotions already planned in the past or for the future, and / or
  • - properties of the goods to be transported or the person to be transported,
    are taken into account in such a way that these factors are evaluated according to predetermined criteria, linked with the distance (S) and output as characteristic data.

10. A method for determining and outputting characteristic data for the transportation of goods or people in an electronic data processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• - Depending on the determined characteristic data, the transport is carried out in that the persons and / or goods to be transported are given a card containing the characteristic data about the transport before the start of the transport.

11. Recorded on a computer-readable data storage database for use in carrying out the method according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that data records are included with the following elements:

• - Name of a place
• - coordinates of the location.

12. Database according to claim 11, characterized in that that the records additionally the affiliation of the place to a zone, and / or a sequential order identifier (No.) included. 13. Machine-readable data carrier, characterized by a database stored on it according to one of the Claims 11 or 12.