EP1573692A1

EP1573692A1 - Device and method for pre-booking and issuing tickets by means of dispensing machines

Info

Publication number: EP1573692A1
Application number: EP02782601A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Halbherr; Bogdan Lent
Original assignee: IPAG Inter Personal AG
Current assignee: IPAG Inter Personal AG
Priority date: 2002-12-13
Filing date: 2002-12-13
Publication date: 2005-09-14
Also published as: WO2004055748A1; AU2002347181A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for pre-booking and for issuing entrance tickets or parking tickets, flight tickets and/or travel tickets by means of dispensing machines based on local, systemic and temporal separation of the selection step (ordering, acceptance and EDP storage) of the issuing of the entrance or parking tickets, flight tickets and/ travel tickets and the invoicing thereof. The orders taken via the telephone (2) or internet are stored by the order receiving office (8) in the central EDP (10). Extremely simple dispensing machines, which are placed in highly frequented locations and which are connected to the central EDP (10) via data links (13, 16, 30), are used to issue the pre-ordered entrance tickets, flight tickets and/or travel tickets. The user is identified by means of an electronically readable card on particular dispensing machine. The device tracks the pre-booking, initiates the immediate printing thereof and invoices without using cash either directly (service provider 15) or indirectly (third party vendor cards 31).

Description

Setup and procedure for pre-selling and issuing tickets using

machines

Technical field

The invention relates to a device with a central electronic data processing system, in which a central order database is contained, and with at least one automatic ticket dispenser, which has a printer and which, with the central electronic data processing system, is separate in terms of location and time from an ordering process and a billing process Connection of the ticket is connected in online operation, the ticket dispenser having means for detecting a user identification. The invention further relates to an automatic ticket dispenser for such a device and a method for operating such a device. State of the art

Up to now, the tickets, flight tickets and tickets have been sold at the counter or at conventional machines.

The sales staff at the counter offers optimal support in the choice of the desired service. The associated high personnel costs are disadvantageous.

The conventional automatic machine is supposed to partially relieve or replace the staff. The user is now asked to find his way through the variety of tariffs using buttons, touch-sensitive screens and displays.

In conventional machines, all tariff data required for sale are saved in a general form. This requires a corresponding storage space and processor performance. Furthermore, additional memory and processor capacities are required to control the expanded (e.g. touch-sensitive screen) human-machine interface. In addition, sophisticated electronics as well as the mechanics for handling cash and for securely storing all sales transactions and billing according to several types are required.

A system for the reservation and later issue of tickets is known from US 3,622,995 (Burroughs Corporation). The reservation is made by telephone at a reservation office. The automatic ticket dispenser is e.g. at the airport terminals. The customer enters his credit card at the ticket dispenser and the data of the reservation, after which the ticket is issued.

US 3,445,633 (Defense Electronics) describes an automatic ticket issuing machine. It is assumed that the passenger has already reserved his flight and that the general information (name of the holder, credit card institute etc.) is stored in a machine-readable form on a credit card or that the user enters this data into the terminal , The current locations of the outgoing displayed the flights. A button is assigned to each flight. The user then inserts his credit card and can confirm the flight reserved by pressing the assigned button. If a flight is selected for which there is no reservation, the process is canceled and the card is ejected. If the correct flight is selected, luggage checks can also be issued.

US 4,449,186 (Cubic Western Data) also describes an automatic ticket issuing machine in which the reservation has already been made when the passenger triggers the ticket with his credit card at the airport terminal. After inserting the credit card, the passenger must enter the reservation number that uniquely identifies the reserved flight. The identified flight is then displayed on the screen and must be confirmed.

DE 32 21 235 A1 (Tokyo Shibaoura) discloses a system with a larger number of different input and output devices (FIG. 1). The system includes counter card vending machines that are used for the reservation and operated by an official, for example. It is therefore possible to make the reservation by phone. The said machine should be able to perform all functions that are possible in the system. In addition, there is also a ticket vending machine, which can be operated by the customer and which is used to issue reserved tickets. Reserved place cards are issued upon entering the reservation number. Payment by cash or credit card is made at the machine.

The ticket dispensing machines in the prior art, which issue previously ordered cards, require the user in addition to identification by z. B. a credit or customer card additional authorization, e.g. B. by entering a reservation number or by redialing the correct pre-ordered product. There is a risk that the user will not be able to purchase his product despite having placed an order because B. has forgotten the reservation number. In addition, due to the additional authentication and the identification of the booked flight on a screen in the known machines, the time required for issuing a pre-ordered card is considerable enlarged, especially if the successful output is preceded by several failed attempts (wrong reservation number, typing errors, other operating errors).

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for pre-selling and issuing tickets by means of machines which are very easy to use and allow tickets to be issued within a very short time.

The solution to the problem is defined in relation to the device by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the device comprises a central electronic data processing system (EDP), in which a central order database is contained. Connected to this in online operation is at least one ticket dispenser with a printer for obtaining the ticket. The order of the desired ticket and the billing is carried out separately from the later place and time. The automatic ticket dispenser includes means for recording a user identification and is controlled such that, after the user identification has been recorded, the pre-orders in the central order database for this identification are transmitted to the automatic ticket dispenser and displayed there. The user can then select and / or confirm the desired pre-order, whereupon the ticket is printed and issued.

The device according to the invention postpones the order of the ticket to an earlier point in time and the settlement or payment to a later point in time. The separation of the order and the billing from the purchase of the ticket avoids time pressure that can arise if a ticket has to be obtained at the last possible moment through a complicated selection and payment process. The order and the billing can also z. B. by phone and thus supported by a person, or via a computerized process, via mobile networks or the Internet. Tickets include e.g. B. tickets for public transport, tickets for cultural events such as concerts, theater, music and sporting events, cinemas etc., parking tickets for parking lots or car parks etc.

The actual purchase of the ticket typically takes place where the service will also be used. B. at the train station, in the cinema or theater, in the car park etc. The reference process simply consists in the user identifying himself, selecting the desired ticket if there are several pre-orders or confirming the issue if there is a single pre-order, after which the ticket is printed out immediately becomes. The simplicity of this process means that a user is not required to spend more time with the machine than is necessary; together with the brevity of the process itself, this leads to a large output capacity of the machine according to the invention.

Despite the simplicity of the procurement process, tickets for a large number of different providers or services can be issued with the device according to the invention, all providers or services accessing the same central ordering database. The same ticket dispenser or ticket dispenser of the same type can therefore issue tickets for different services, such as tickets, entrance tickets or parking tickets. The order and billing can be done together for several or all providers or services or separately for each provider or service.

In addition, the ticket dispensers do not save any tariffs, have no need for a sophisticated human-machine interface, and because no payment is made at the machine, the machines according to the invention also do not contain any sales files and do not have to carry out bills. The machines are only functional in online mode. All this leads to the fact that the automatic ticket dispensers according to the invention are simple and therefore inexpensive as a slim peripheral device; they can also be used with a small amount of space, offer little scope for vandalism and are of no interest to "vending machine crackers" because they do not accept cash.

The automatic ticket dispenser of the device according to the invention advantageously has a card reader as a means of detecting the user identification. Credit cards and customers The cards of various companies are widely used today. They usually carry machine-readable information (e.g. on a magnetic stripe or on a chip) that allows the cardholder to be identified. The reading process of this information by a card reader is very fast.

Instead of using a credit or customer card, a user of the device according to the invention can use the automatic ticket dispenser e.g. B. also identify with his mobile phone, e.g. B. by calling a certain number specified on the machine or sending a text message (SMS) to a certain number. Some mobile phones already offer the possibility of accessing public data networks (e.g. the Internet), e.g. B. by means of the so-called. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), which also allows the user to identify the machine.

There are also special devices, e.g. B. in the form of a wristwatch or conventional "badges" that allow contactless identification of the wearer. It can also be provided that the user identifies himself at the ticket dispenser in this way.

Finally, it is also conceivable that biometric features (iris of the eye, fingerprints, face recognition, etc.) are used directly for identification, in that the ticket dispenser includes appropriate sensors and the recorded features are compared with stored data in the central EDP.

The user can advantageously identify himself to the means for detecting a user identification by means of a mobile telephone. As a rule, each mobile phone is assigned a phone number (or another identification), which is transmitted to the remote station via the mobile network. This number is sufficient for the identification of the user of the mobile telephone in relation to the device according to the invention. The central electronic data processing system includes z. B. means for receiving calls, and in the simplest case, a call to a number specified on the machine is sufficient to identify the user to the machine without a connection having to be established. Additional opportunities arise if one Text message (e.g. SMS) is sent to the machine or if identification takes place via a data network that can be accessed via a mobile phone (e.g. the Internet via WAP).

Preferably, the user can also identify himself by means of a contactless signal transmitter in relation to the means for detecting a user identification. Such a signal transmitter primarily transmits an identification code which identifies its carrier to a receiver. He can e.g. B. integrated in a wristwatch, pager or other electronic device or form a separate unit. Communication takes place directly with the receiver integrated in the respective ticket dispenser, e.g. B. by infrared connection, radio or induction.

The ticket dispenser is advantageously only designed to issue pre-orders. Such a machine is as simple as possible, with a minimum of controls, set up and allows - or even forces - a quick transaction when tickets are issued.

So that the convenience of the automatic ticket dispenser of the device according to the invention is improved and the reference time is further minimized, the selection or the sequence of the pre-orders displayed on the automatic machine is preferably determined by the reference time of the ticket or the location of the automatic ticket dispenser. The machine can e.g. B. selectively display only those pre-orders that can be used at the point of delivery, ie for example only train tickets with the corresponding departure point or only cinema tickets for the day in question if the machine is used in a cinema. It is possible that the automatic dispenser only treats the preferred pre-orders as a priority, ie displays them first, or it can only issue the appropriate pre-orders and suppress the rest. The user can choose between these two options via the central EDP - e.g. B. in connection with the pre-order - or it is preset for the machine. A machine can also selectively issue only the tickets for one or more specific providers or services or display them as a priority. An automatic ticket dispenser for the device according to the invention comprises means for online connection to a central electronic data processing system (EDP), means for recording a user identification, means for displaying pre-orders based solely on the recorded user identification, an operating element for confirming and / or selecting one specific pre-order and a printer to issue the ticket to the selected pre-order.

The means for online connection include, for. B. a terminal, which is connected to the Internet via cable line or mobile radio. In this case, the central EDP is also connected to the Internet. Alternatively, system-specific, wireless or wired connections can be provided.

As a means of detecting user identification, e.g. B. a card reader, a mobile radio receiver, a detector for special devices for identification or a sensor for biometric data.

To view the pre-orders, a. Suitable for LED or LCD displays, plasma screens, cathode ray tubes or "electronic paper". If the output process is triggered by identification by a mobile phone, the display can also take place on the screen of the mobile phone, e.g. B. by means of the "Wireless Application Protocol" (WAP) standard.

An advantageous and particularly simple embodiment of the automatic ticket dispenser according to the invention only has a single OK button for the selection or confirmation of a pre-order. This makes the user guidance as simple as possible. If a selection process is necessary, the individual options can e.g. B. can be displayed during a certain period of time or the user can make his selection within a certain time by pressing the button several times.

If more complicated selection processes (e.g. from a larger number of pre-orders) are to be expected, a ticket dispenser according to the invention has additional operating elements, e.g. B. a forward and a backward button for quick selection a pre-order and / or a cancel button to cancel a selection. The controls can also be used as a touch-sensitive display (touchscreen) or z. B. can be realized with a trackball.

A method for operating a device according to the invention for recording orders in a central order database and for the spatially and temporally separate issuing of tickets comprises the following steps: Receiving order data in a terminal which is connected to a central electronic data processing system (EDP), the storage of the order data in the central order database, at a later point in time the acceptance of a user identification at a ticket dispenser that is separate from the central EDP; the transmission of the user identification to the central EDP and, in return, the transmission of pre-orders for the user identification to the ticket dispenser; displaying pre-orders at the ticket dispenser; accepting a selection or confirming a pre-order and finally printing out a ticket for the pre-order selected or confirmed by the user.

Advantageously, the pre-order data is stored centrally together with information on user identification and can be called up online by any ticket dispenser connected to the system solely on the basis of identification using a card. After the completed issue has been communicated, the ticket is billed separately by the ticket dispenser in the central EDP, an EDP system of the service provider and / or at a clearing institute and without any conditions.

The order data can preferably include an order which is only deleted from the central database after a predetermined period of time or after the user has withdrawn it. Such a pre-order can be called up as often as required at the ticket dispenser. So it has the character of a subscription. Compared to a normal subscription or a card that e.g. B. entitled to several train journeys or visits to the cinema, this form of ordering offers the advantage that the user does not additional subscriptions or cards. The number of journeys or payments is also not limited either upwards or downwards. The subscription-type order can include an entire class of tickets, e.g. B. Tickets for all performances in a certain cinema, for all football games in a certain stadium or for network cards of different transport companies.

Settlement can be done in different ways: Each reference can be billed individually or a certain number of references are billed in advance or afterwards. The period in which such a pre-order is valid can be chosen by the operator of the facility or by the user. It can also be un- limited because the user has the option of permanent pre-order from the central database to delete ^', particularly by the same means as for detecting an order.

Brief description of the drawings

The drawings used to explain the exemplary embodiment show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention;

2 shows a schematic illustration to explain the process sequences and the exchanged information;

3 shows a variant of FIG. 2.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention The method and the device with automatic dispensers for the pre-sale and issue of pre-ordered admission or parking tickets, flight tickets and tickets are shown in FIG.

The facility consists of several components that can be spread across multiple locations.

A telephone 2 in an office 1 (or a house or a car), a mobile phone or a public telephone are used to order the desired service by the user.

The order is placed via the public telephone network 3 to an order acceptance point 8. The order placed in any language, dialect and order is received on the telephone 4 of the order acceptance point 8 and entered in a computer-conforming manner using the keyboard 6 at the terminal 5. The correctness of the input is checked on screen 7.

The order details are transmitted to the central electronic data processing system (EDP) 10 via the data line 9. The central EDP 10 contains computers with several memories, which software and databases for receiving and managing orders (order database 1 1) and debtors (debtor database 12).

The inquiries are directed to the EDP system of a service provider 15 (eg train) via the data line 13. Databases 17 relating to the service plan (eg timetable), valid tariffs, reservations and the database 18 of the service provider relating to the customer card (eg the train card of a railway company) are specifically addressed. The central EDP 10 can be connected to EDP systems from several service providers, so that a large number of different tickets can be reserved and the orders and customers can be stored in the databases 1 1, 12. Information about the third-party cards approved in the system (for example credit cards) is obtained via the gateway 14 of the service provider and the data line 16 from the corresponding clearing institute 31 for third-party cards.

The dispensing machines 20 placed at the entrance 19 (e.g. train station, platform, airport terminal, cinema entrance etc.) or directly on the train, bus etc. are used exclusively to issue the pre-ordered tickets, e.g. B. tickets, parking tickets, flight tickets or tickets.

The dispensing machines 20 are optimized for the fastest possible dispensing of the corresponding tickets.

The user identifies himself by means of a card 25 issued by the service provider or third party and inserted into the card reader 24. The controller 21 asks for the existence of an order from the central EDP 10 through the data network 30 and the EDP system 15 of the service provider. The data network 30 is implemented via the telephone network, a mobile radio network or other wired or wireless communication channels. The dispenser 20 must be connected to the central EDP 10 in online mode, at least during the transaction. If the dispenser 20 is not very busy and the connection establishment takes only a short time, e.g. B. no longer than the time required for the card reader 24 to detect the inserted card 25, it can be provided that an online connection is established only during transactions. In this case, inserting the card 25 into the card reader 24 automatically triggers the connection.

In the case of several pre-orders, individual bookings are displayed on the customer display 22. The order of the bookings displayed is determined on the basis of the current time and the location of the ticket dispenser 20 by the central computer 10 evaluating each pre-order on the basis of these parameters and arranging them in a ranking so that the most likely booking appears first or at the top. For a machine 20 set up on a platform, the evaluation function delivers z. B. generally a high value for a pre-order that affects a train ticket that is coming soon will depart from the platform in question. For a machine 20 that issues cinema tickets, bookings for the next show are primarily displayed.

The selection and the order of the bookings displayed can ultimately also be influenced by the habits of the user, in that the central EDP has access to a user profile in which the respective orders and the respective references are recorded on the machine. In this way, the system can "remember" previous references and adapt the displayed selection.

Individual machines can be set so that they only issue pre-orders from a certain service provider or a group of certain service providers or that they always display them as a priority. A machine in a cinema will show priority cinema tickets (but may also allow you to purchase other pre-ordered tickets, e.g. tickets). If several service providers of similar services (e.g. different transport companies) are connected to the same device according to the invention, that is to say access the same order database 1 1, z. For example, the service provider who operates one of the ticket dispensers 20 has his pre-orders displayed primarily over those for services from competitors.

If several bookings are displayed on the customer display 22, the user can select the desired booking using an OK button 23. For this purpose, the individual bookings are highlighted in succession for a certain time (for example, 3 seconds each) in the customer display 22 (by means of a colored background or by bold print). As soon as it is the turn of the desired booking, the issue can be triggered by pressing the OK button 23.

If only one booking is displayed, this booking can be confirmed with the OK button 23.

The ticket 28 is then printed by the printer 27 and fed into the output tray 29. The process from ordering to handing in the sold admission or parking tickets, flight tickets or tickets is shown in FIG. 2.

The method according to the invention is based on a local, systematic and temporal separation between the voting process, the issue of the admission tickets, flight and / or tickets and the billing.

The only connection between the three processes is the central EDP 10.

The individual process steps are described below.

The dialing process takes place by telephone 2 in an office 1 (in a house, a car or by means of a mobile phone or public telephone) in an ergonomically optimal form of the oral order. In several languages and dialects, the information 46: desired service, date, price, discount, special requests and number of the customer card to be charged (e.g. train card) or third-party card (e.g. credit card) from the staff in the order acceptance point 8 via the public telephone network 3 and that Telephone 4 added. The inputs are entered in accordance with the computer using the keyboard 6 of the terminal 5. The correctness of the input is checked on screen 7. With the information 47: service, date, price, discount and special requests, the data necessary for the creation of the admission ticket, flight and / or ticket are obtained through the data lines 9, 13 and the central EDP 10 in the EDP system 15 of the service provider , e.g. B. the performance plan stored in database 17 (e.g. timetable) or the tariff.

This information 51 for one or more tickets is stored in the database for orders 1 1.

At the same time, the number of the customer card or third-party card 48 is fed to the customer database 12. The authorization of the customer card (number of customer card 49) is requested via the data line 13 by the database 18 of the customer card of the service provider. The authorization of a third-party card (for example, credit card) approved in the system takes place with the aid of the number of the third-party card 50, which is released for third-party cards via the gateway 14 of the service provider and the data line 16 by the corresponding clearing institute 31. Authorization 52: "Customer card valid" resp. 53: "Third-party card valid"'is stored as authorization 54: "Card valid" from the customer database 12 which is placed in the order database 1 1.

The easiest automatic vending machine 20 is to issue the admission or parking card, flight and / or ticket directly to the service provider or before claiming the service (e.g. when entering the train or even on the train).

The user identifies himself at any automatic dispenser 20 by inserting a customer or third-party card 25 with an identification 55 into the card reader 24.

The card reader 24 transmits the number of the card 56 and, if appropriate, the location or an identification of the machine to the controller 21, which asks via the data network 30 and the data lines 16, 13 for an order assigned to this number 57 in the order file of the order database 11 ,

The existing pre-orders 58 assigned to this number 57 and, if necessary, selected and / or ordered according to the location or the identification of the machine are downloaded to the requesting dispenser 20.

In the case of several pre-ordered tickets, these are shown individually in the optimal order by the controller 21 on the customer display 22 (several tickets 59).

Using the OK button 23, the user selects which entry or parking cards, flight and / or ticket (option 60) he wants to pick up in this process. In most cases, only one ticket is pre-ordered, so no '60 election is necessary.

The controller 21 then issues the command printer start 61 to the printer 27. The ticket 62 of the admission ticket 28, the flight and / or ticket is issued in the output tray 29.

The printer reports ticket issue OK 63 to the controller 21.

This completes the dispensing process.

Settlement is also carried out separately and in time from the previous transactions. Bundling for the purpose of minimizing the transmission costs is optionally possible after consultation with the partners involved.

After the ticket 28, i.e. the entry or parking ticket, the flight and / or ticket has been issued without error and the ticket OK 63 has been confirmed accordingly, the controller 21 transmits the information required for billing to the central EDP 10 and in a next step to three locations , in each case via the data network 30 and the EDP system 15 of the service provider.

The number of the customer card or third-party card 64 to be debited is first transmitted together with the amount to the customer database 12 and administration software of the central EDP 10.

In the next step, the number of the customer card 65 to be debited is transmitted to the database 18 of the customer card administration of the service provider or the number of the third-party card 66 to be debited through the gateway 14 and the data line 16 to the clearing institute 31 of the third-party card. This is followed by the customer card remuneration 67 or the third-party card remuneration 68 to the customer database 12 of the central EDP 10. Standard simple tickets can be pre-ordered. B. valid for a trip on a means of transport or for a single visit to an event, and subscriptions, which z. B. remain valid for several trips or events. However, it is also possible to pre-order several tickets of the same type (e.g. for the same route) in a single operation. In this case, the user can obtain a (pre-ordered) ticket from the machine in a very short time before starting a journey on this route. If the user e.g. B. uses a machine directly on the platform, thanks to a priority display of preferred bookings, the ticket for the desired route is usually displayed first and the purchase of the ticket takes no longer than z. B. the cancellation of a normal card, which entitles to a certain number of trips.

However, the number of pre-ordered tickets does not have to be limited in the method according to the invention. For example, if you often travel the same route, you can pre-order as a subscription by pre-ordering an indefinite number of the corresponding tickets. The pre-order subsequently remains in the order database 11 until a possible revocation by the user or until a predetermined period of time has expired. Every machine that can issue corresponding tickets will therefore display this pre-order as a subscription and enable the purchase of a corresponding ticket. Pre-subscription subscription can include a whole class of tickets. In this case, the automatic ticket dispenser 20 in turn generates the displayed, selectable tickets on the basis of its location, the time and possibly the habits of the user.

Optionally, the ticket dispenser 20 can additionally transmit information about the time of purchase and the location of the machine to the central EDP 10. The subsequent billing is then adjusted depending on these parameters. So z. B. a different tariff can be applied depending on the time or the place of purchase. The pre-order can e.g. B. "Expire" at a certain point in time: if it is picked up early, a lower tariff is used, and if it is picked up later, a higher one. After the expiry, the pre-order is automatically deleted from the order database 1 1. Cards that are valid up to a certain time are also possible. point are valid. With the ongoing shortening of the period of validity, your price will be adjusted downwards. Finally, tickets are possible for which only the destination is predetermined: in this case, depending on the distance from the point of issue to the predetermined destination, a different tariff applies.

The individual service providers for their customer cards and third-party providers will carry out the billing with the user directly and without the involvement of the central IT system 10.

Another variant provides that the user is identified either by a special identification card of the system or another card, and the billing by the system, i. H. from the central EDP 10, is carried out directly with the user. This can be done separately for each service provider or together for all or a group of service providers. In this case, the functions of the EDP system of the service provider 15 are also taken over by the central EDP 10 of the system.

In the last and periodically repeated step, the periodic accounts receivable check 69 is carried out at the central EDP 10 for the purpose of uncovering irregularities.

The fact that the billing takes place only after the ticket has been purchased means that the user does not take any risk by pre-ordering. If he does not need the ticket and does not get it from the ticket dispenser, he will not be charged. The pre-order can either be deleted automatically (after a certain period) or by the user himself from the order database 1 1. In certain cases, e.g. B. when pre-ordering tickets for certain music or sports events or for a certain cinema screening, to prevent a large number of (precautionary) pre-orders, which are not subsequently collected, the billing for certain tickets can also be done when pre-ordering or done automatically after a certain period of time. For the same reason, the cancellation (or rebooking) of a pre-order can be associated with a fee in certain cases. The device according to the invention can optionally be expanded in several areas, as shown in FIG. 3.

The order acceptance point 8 can be automated as far as possible. The construction of an interface 40 to alternative order acceptance media plays an essential role.

The personnel used to accept the order can be replaced by automatic speech recognition and processing using automatic telephone 41. The order can also be made by facsimile (fax), in which the fax inputs are either processed by staff or automatically (font recognition).

The orders can also be sent from the customer's EDP systems 42 (for example PCs, cell phones) directly via the data network 45a (for example the Internet, short message service from the telecommunications provider) and a corresponding interface 40 to the central EDP 10 can be entered. It is particularly advantageous if the ordering process is integrated into an existing application of the provider, e.g. B. in a timetable or flight schedule, an event calendar or a reservation service, which can be accessed online via the Internet. This implementation enables a switching element (e.g. a button) to be assigned to the train or flight connections, events, etc. that are displayed anyway, which, without any noteworthy additional effort, can be used to order a ticket for the ticket simply by actuating the switching element displayed connection or event allowed.

For bookings in the last second, the automatic dispenser 20 can be expanded with an integrated telephone 43 on the automatic dispenser for direct connection to the automatic telephone 41. Other options concern authorization and the billing channels.

In the case of automatic dispensers which can issue a large number of tickets, so that more complicated selection processes are to be expected, the user interface can include additional operating elements, in particular for quickly selecting pre-orders or for canceling a selection. So these controls can e.g. B. arrow key include moving a cursor in a list of pre-orders and / or a correction key. Alternatively, these functions can be controlled by a trackball or joystick. A touch-sensitive display (touchscreen) is particularly advantageous, so that a pre-order can be selected by finger pressure on the corresponding display.

In the event that online authorization of the customer or third-party provider card would be required by the service provider or third-party provider, the corresponding PIN code is optionally entered using an optional PIN keyboard 26.

An embodiment of the automatic dispenser 20 according to the invention offers the user the possibility of identifying himself or herself to the automatic dispenser 20 by means of a mobile telephone. To do this, the user calls a number specified on the machine or sends z. B. a text message (SMS) to a specified number. The central EDP 10 or a special center for processing the calls accepts the call. The user is identified by his phone number, which is automatically transmitted when there is a call.

The machine can be identified in different ways: Each machine is assigned its own phone number, the user transmits an identification number specified on the machine in the text message, or the cell of the mobile network in which the user makes the call is used for identification. The possibilities can be combined: B. each machine in a cell of the mobile network can be assigned its own number. The same numbers can be used again in other, remote cells. Communication with the central EDP 10 or the special center for processing the calls can also take place from the mobile phone via a data network, such as the Internet. For this, z. B. the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) used, which also offers the possibility to offer different content in different cells.

Especially when the mobile phone is used for identification, it can also perform the task of the user interface. To do this, the existing automatic vending machines 20 transmitted pre-orders 58 also transmitted to the mobile phone, in particular by means of a text message or via a data network (for example the Internet using WAP). The pre-orders 58 are then shown on the display of the mobile telephone, optionally selected and / or ordered according to the location or the identification of the machine. A pre-order is selected and confirmed using the operating elements of the mobile phone (by selecting a displayed pre-order or by sending a corresponding text message). This selection and the confirmation are transmitted to the automatic dispenser 20, whereupon the latter prints out and issues the desired ticket.

An automatic dispenser 20 according to the invention can offer the possibility of identifying and / or selecting the pre-orders on the machine and via the mobile telephone, but it can also only allow one of the possibilities. If the machine can only be operated with a mobile phone, there is no need for the customer display 22, the OK button 23 and the card reader 24. In this case, it is also not necessary to transmit all pre-orders 58 to the machine. Only after the selection and confirmation of a pre-order must the selected pre-order be transferred to the machine.

Optionally, the automatic dispenser 20 itself - instead of the central EDP 10 - can include means for accepting calls or text messages. B. a GSM receiver. The method according to the invention runs in this case the same as if, for. B. a card reader is used for identification.

The automatic dispenser 20 can also have means for receiving signals from a contactless signal transmitter. Such a signal generator, the z. B. is integrated in a wristwatch, transmits an identifier that uniquely identifies the user via a radio or infrared connection, or by means of induction directly to the receiver, which is integrated in the ticket dispenser. There is no need to insert a card or dial a telephone number. Because the signal generator has a limited range only the user who is directly at the dispenser 20 can identify himself.

In principle, there can be a direct data network connection 44 between the central EDP 10 and the clearing institute 31 for third-party provider cards, and there can also be a direct connection via the data network 45b between the automatic dispensers 20 and the clearing institute 31. In this case, the number of the third-party card 7 \ is transmitted to the clearing institute 31 via the data network connection 44 and the data line 16, whereupon the clearing institute 31 reports the authorization 70 of the third-party card to the customer database 12 as authorization 72: card valid via the data network 44.

In summary, it can be stated that the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention for preselling and issuing tickets by means of machines are very easy to use and allow tickets to be issued within a very short time.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Device with a central electronic data processing system (10), in which a central order database (1 1) is contained, and with at least one ticket issuing machine (20), which has a printer (27) and which is connected to the central electronic data processing system (10) for the purpose of purchasing the ticket in online operation that is spatially and temporally separate from an ordering process and a billing process, the device having means for recording a user identification (24), characterized in that the ticket issuing machine (20) is controlled in such a way that alone based on the recorded user identification, the pre-orders existing in the central order database (1 1) for user identification are transmitted to the ticket issuing machine (20) and displayed there, and that the user selects and/or confirms the desired pre-order by actuating a control element (23). can, after which the ticket (28) is printed out.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ticket issuing machine has a card reader as a means for recording the user identification.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the user can identify himself to the means for recording a user identification using a mobile phone.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the user can identify himself to the means for detecting a user identification by means of a contactless signal transmitter.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ticket issuing machine is designed exclusively to issue pre-orders.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the selection and / or order of the displayed pre-orders is determined by a reference time of the ticket or by a location of the ticket issuing machine.

7. Ticket issuing machine for a facility according to claim 1

a) means (30, 13) for the online connection to a central electronic data processing system (10),

b) means (24) for detecting a user identification,

c) means (22) for displaying pre-orders based solely on the user identification recorded,

d) an operating element (23) for confirming and/or selecting a specific pre-order and

e) a printer (27) for issuing the ticket for the selected pre-order.

8. Ticket issuing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it is designed exclusively to issue pre-orders.

9. Ticket issuing machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it determines the selection and / or order of the displayed pre-orders by a reference time of the ticket and / or by a location of the ticket issuing machine.

0. Ticket issuing machine according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the operating element is exclusively an OK button for selection or confirmation.

1. Method for operating a device according to claim 1 for recording orders in a central order database (1 1) and for issuing tickets separately in terms of location and time with the following steps:

a) Receipt of order data in a terminal (5) to a central electronic data processing system

(10),

b) saving the order data in the central order database (1 1),

c) - at a later point in time - receiving a user identification at a locally separate ticket issuing machine (20),

d) Transmitting the user identification to the central order database

(1 1) or to the central electronic data processing system (10),

e) transmitting orders available for user identification to the ticket issuing machine (20),

f) displaying the orders at the ticket issuing machine (20),

g) Acceptance of a selection made by the user or confirmation of an order.

h) Printing a ticket for the order selected by the user.

12. The method according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the order data is stored centrally together with the user identification information (1 1) and can be accessed by any ticket issuing machine solely on the basis of identification in online operation, and that billing is carried out after notification the completed issue by the ticket issuing machine (20) at the central IT system (10) and/or the service provider's IT system (15) and/or the clearing institute (31) is carried out separately and without any conditions.

13. The method according to claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the selection and / or order of the displayed orders is determined by a reference time of the ticket or by a location of the ticket issuing machine.

14. The method according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that the order data includes an order which is only deleted from the central order database after a predetermined period of time or after revocation by the user.