DE3444044A1 - MOBILE DATA TERMINAL FOR TAXI VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile data terminal for taxis is illustrated, for the two-way transmission of information and instructions between a stationary taxi switchboard and a number of vehicles equipped with data terminals. The mobile data terminal is a combination, installed in the taxi, consisting of a central unit (1) with integrated taxi meter module, program memory, data store and a plurality of input/output interfaces (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), a transceiver terminal (13), a display terminal (16), a printer terminal (15), a read module (14) and a transmitter module for providing the data dependent on the vehicle. The data terminal serves for communication between a taxi switchboard and the taxis for the purposes of centralised control of deployment and two-way transmission of information and data. <IMAGE>

Description

Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles

The invention relates to a mobile data terminal for Taxi vehicles for mutual transfer of. information and instructions between a fixed taxi center and a number of data terminal equipped taxi vehicles.

As is well known, the locations of taxi vehicles, as far as there is allow the local conditions, according to the occurring Customer frequency and from the point of view of an optimal starting position of the taxi parking spaces over the catchment area of a City distributed. To improve profitability and optimization of the distribution of the incurred journeys, the individual taxi companies already have a central paging system. Every taxi vehicle stands accordingly in radio two-way communication with a control center in permanent connection, in particular with the aim of better coordination and distribution of the centrally incoming orders to the individual taxi vehicles. For this purpose there is one in each Centrally connected taxi vehicle has a transmitting and receiving system installed, via which the verbal transmission of the Use of vehicles is controlled.

However, this type of transmission of the driving orders cannot always be carried out without errors, because it is transmitted through speech Misunderstandings can arise due to hearing impairments. Even with heavy traffic it is not opportune to inform the driver with new order submissions from Distract traffic. After all, there is still a danger task not fulfilled in this way, possibly to the detriment of the commissioned taxi company. It sure is a general need for a taxi driver to get away from such mutual conversations with his central office

and to concentrate on the safety of his driving style in the hustle and bustle of traffic. However, it cannot be avoided that a driving order overlaps with the transmission or acceptance of new driving orders, this is in particular of Economic advantage if long journeys can be avoided by constantly tracking the position of a vehicle are.

In order to achieve equality of all drivers with regard to compliance with the current tariff level at the given time, an automatically controllable tariff switching device has become known from DE-AS 2 037 048. This facility serves primarily the purpose of switching to so-called special tariffs, such as night, weekend and public holiday tariffs and the like, without the possibility of influence on the part of the Driver. This device is designed as an additional unit of the existing radio intercom system. It will be for the duration of the area of validity of a special tariff at regular time intervals from the central tariff switching signals that control an electronic timing relay of a timing circuit to self-hold. The relay circuit Associated contacts are actuated and, for example, bridge one by means of a stepping mechanism via a shaft tariff level switching that can be switched in serial sequence. That works in a practical application, for example, that during a time period in which only tariff II is to be used, the taximeter device through the The switch-on effect is set immediately beyond tariff I to tariff II. This facility is primarily used for Equal equality of the drivers with each other and at the same time prevents an unauthorized change of tariff to a higher one Tariff levels. However, it does not make the exchange of mutual information much easier or secure between the taxi office and the individual taxi driver.

The object of the invention is to create a device for a secure coordination between a taxi center and a taxi driver, largely independent of the taxi driver Number of taxi vehicles connected to you with means for the mutually controllable transmission and logging of information and for the control of the taximeter functions, which can optionally be influenced centrally, for a largely automated demand and mission control.

The solution consists of a mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles, this is indicated by a in the Tax! vehicle Installed combination, consisting of a central unit with an integrated taximeter module, with an internal program memory and a data memory, with several input-output interfaces, from a transmit / receive terminal, from a Display terminal, from a printer terminal, from a reader module and from a transmitter module for the provision of vehicle-dependent data.

Further features for the development of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

A major advantage of the invention is based on the modular structure of the specified combination. A processor-controlled The central unit as the core of the mobile data terminal has all the necessary interfaces that one Step-by-step expansion or connection of the in terminals created using modular technology. This conception is about the central unit with an integrated Taximeter module the basis for a mobile data station in one Taxi vehicle created which, in addition to the standard function of a taximeter, paves the way for new additional taximeter functions opens. The connection with a send / receive terminal enables communication with one in the taxi center

Installed data processing system can be produced, whereby a widely branchable additional benefit can be derived. In addition to the taximeter-specific function processing, such as automatic Tariff control, retrievable transport orders and cost forecasts, Working time control, shift accounting, profitability analysis etc., an additional use is conceivable, for example in the form of a call up and the display of Timetable data for other modes of transport through the variably controllable display terminal in the taxi vehicle. In a similar way information about events or, for example, advance calculations can be called up from the taxi control center Obtain the approximate fare for a specific destination trip, show it on the display or even on a printer terminal print. Especially when text is transmitted from the fixed taxi control center to the mobile central unit and vice versa, when data is transmitted back to the taxi control center, the printer terminal ensures that the automatic Acknowledgment mode is switchable, a secure, controllable data transmission. Finally, there is the central processing unit Provided with an interface for the connection of a reader module for the evaluation of prepaid cards or authorization cards.

The data, which are dependent on the taxi vehicle, come from an encoder module via another interface directly to the central unit and are branched there on the one hand to the Taximeter module for the program-controlled determination of a fare, on the other hand these data are used for transmission and logging of taxi vehicle data in a data processing system provided in the taxi office.

An embodiment of the invention is based on the following a schematic diagram of the modular structure of the mobile data terminal explained.

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In order to connect a mobile data terminal to the available data acquisition and data processing facilities and a To develop a system-compatible concept, it is essential that the individual functional units for the Capture, process, transmit, display, log etc. are built in modular technology. Depending on the data acquisition requirements, one is then created in the taxi vehicle System that can be combined from individual modules. The heart of a mobile data terminal is a central unit 1 with integrated taximeter module. The central unit 1 contains a program memory and a data memory for intermediate storage of information. There are several interfaces for connecting system peripherals to the central unit 1 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 arranged, via which peripheral units can be connected by means of separate line connections 7, 8, 9/10, 11 are. Correspondingly, a transmitter module 12 can be connected to the interface 2 of the central unit 1 via a line 7 for the transfer of data dependent on the taxi vehicle. A line connection 8 leads via the interface 3 in the central unit 1 to a transceiver terminal 13. A line connection 9 is provided for the connection of a reading module 14 to the interface 4 of the central unit 1 for taking over data from a prepaid card or ID card 18. A line 10 leads from the interface 5 of the Central unit 1 to a printer terminal 15 for program-controlled logging and internally determined data in the central unit 1 as well as data from a stationary taxi center 19. Finally, an interface 6 is arranged for the extraction of all information via a line connection 11 on a display panel 17 of a display terminal 16. A transfer of information between the stationary taxi control center 19 and the mobile data terminal in the taxi vehicle and vice versa takes place via an implementation of Digital signals in frequency transmit and receive signals.

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A radio modem is provided in the central unit 1 for this purpose. The transmission of text information or taximeter control data from the taxi center 19 to a mobile data terminal takes place via the voice radio channel as an alternative to voice radio traffic. Radiotelephony traffic is little affected because the transmission times are very short. For the Radio two-way communication is a handy microphone speaker -Kombinat ion 20 provided, which is connected to the transmitting / receiving terminal 13 via a pluggable cable 21.

If the taxi vehicles are used centrally, they are Functions that can be triggered in the taximeter module of the mobile central unit 1, such as on / off switching, tariff selection, data display, Receipt printing and the like. Controllable by means of radio signals from the stationary taxi center 19. Correspondingly are of the Fixed taxi center 19 information output in the display field 17 of the display terminal 16 can be displayed. About that In addition, this information and the data determined via the taximeter module in the central unit 1 are on one Receipt strips 22 of the printer terminal 15 can be printed out. Even if a taxi driver is not currently in his vehicle stops or while a driving job is in progress, his attention is directed to the traffic situation he printed the information on a receipt in the form of a written communication. Due to a hearing defect in Placing orders via radio, for example, incorrectly interpretable information is completely eliminated.

The functions required for operating the taximeter module in the central unit 1 for a taxi operation are can also be triggered optionally via autonomous actuating means 23 integrated in the mobile central unit. These include, for example four function keys 24, 25, 26, 27 in the central unit 1 is provided, by means of which the initiated according to a program stored in the system ROM of the taximeter module

functional steps can be triggered. This switchability to an autonomous mode of operation is required for a Use of the mobile data terminal outside the range of the radio paging system in the fixed taxi center 19. Zum When the data is received in the mobile data terminal, all of the data can be stored in the intermediate storage of the central unit 1 and / or can be logged via the print terminal 15.

Claims (9)

December 3rd, 1984
011.12 see between
1902 File Claims; Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles for the mutual transfer of information and instructions between a fixed taxi center and a number of taxi vehicles equipped with a data terminal,
marked by a combination installed in the taxi vehicle, consisting of from a central unit (1) with integrated taximeter '"module, with an internal program memory and a data .. memory, with several input-output interfaces (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), from a send / receive terminal (13), from a display terminal (16), from a printer terminal (15), from a reading module (14) and from one ^ Transmitter module (12) for providing from the vehicle dependent data. 2. Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles, characterized, ^ That the central unit (1) contains a radio modem for
Conversion of the frequency received signals into digital signals and vice versa of the digital signals into frequency
Broadcast signals. 3. Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles according to the
Claims 1 and 2,
characterized, that the functions that can be triggered in the taximeter module of the central unit (1) on / off, tariff selection, data ³ ^ show, receipt print and the like. Via radio signal
the stationary taxi center (19) are controllable. 4. Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles according to claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that via the radio modem of the mobile central unit (1) from the stationary taxi control center (19) can be displayed in the display field (17) of the display terminal (16) of the taxi vehicles. 5. Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles according to claims 1 to 4, characterized, '"that information from the fixed taxi center (19) as well as from the taximeter module of the mobile central unit (1) determined data on a slip (22) of the Printer terminals (15), which via an interface (5) can be connected to the central unit (1), can be printed out. 6. Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that that the mobile central unit (1) has an interface (4) for the optional connection of the reading module (14) for the use of value cards and ID cards (18). 7. Mobile data terminal for taxi vehicles according to claim 1, characterized, that the mobile central unit (1) has a further interface (2) for the connection of the transmitter module (12) to feed the data dependent on the taxi vehicle on the one hand into the taximeter module for the program-controlled Determination of a fare, on the other hand for the transmission and logging of taxi vehicle data to a Fixed data processing system (EDY) in the taxi center (19). 8. Mobile data terminal according to claims 1 and 3, characterized, that the functions of the taximeter module required for the taxi operation optionally via autonomous, in the mobile central unit (1) integrated actuators (23) can be triggered. 9. Mobile data terminal according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that that the central unit (1) in a taxi vehicle from the stationary taxi control center (19) can be switched to autonomous operation by transmitting a signal code.