EP3110676B1 - Method for directing passengers of public means of transport - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for guiding passengers on public transport, in particular trains or trains, at stops and / or in stop areas and in the means of transport, the passengers in an entry area of the stop or the stop area extending over the length of the vehicle at least two doors of the vehicle, usually through several doors, get in and out.

Methods of the generic type are known from practice. There are already seat reservations in long-distance transport, which means that passengers can be distributed across the entire train, but only in relation to those passengers who make use of the reservation option.

Spontaneous people and passengers with indefinite travel times after business appointments, meetings, conferences, etc. take the train that will take them to their desired destination in a timely manner. In this respect, an even distribution of passengers among the individual wagons or compartments is almost impossible.

There are already ads that show the level of occupation of the railways more or less reliably. In this respect, boarding passengers can orientate themselves on the displayed occupancy rate and switch to wagons or compartments that are not too busy. The occupancy rate is recorded with the help of automatic passenger counting systems, which are installed in the area of the doors but also within the wagons and compartments and are networked at least with respect to the entire train.

So far, there are no reliable procedures that take into account the expected dropouts from the respective wagons. Statistical findings about expected dropouts are either not known or have so far not been taken into account due to their limited reliability.

The total number of beginners per platform area is also unknown. Passengers are therefore not informed about the "best" boarding areas for the current stop and the current journey.

Due to the problems discussed above, there are always traffic jams when boarding, for example on subways near the escalators. If the passengers were directed to more distant compartments, the boarding process would be considerably shortened. In addition, there would be no recurring nuisance with inconvenience for the passengers.

Neither long-distance traffic nor local traffic can significantly reduce travel times. This is due to the mileage of the vehicles and the conditions of the respective route. As a result, the total travel time can only be shortened by accelerating boarding and alighting, especially in local traffic. This can shorten the stop times of the trains and increase the overall travel speeds.

Starting from the above consideration, the invention is based on the object of eliminating the disadvantage relating to travel time from the prior art, namely to achieve an increase in travel speed. At the same time, passenger comfort should be increased. Travel costs are to be reduced. In addition, panic behavior is reduced thanks to the better distribution of passengers on the train in emergency situations.

The above object is achieved by the features of claim 1. As already explained above, the invention is based on the consideration that the journey time cannot be reduced, for example, by increasing the speed of the trains, but rather by influencing the exit and boarding behavior of the passengers, namely by the passengers on the entire train, possibly taking into account your driving authorization - 1st class or 2nd class. Such a distribution only works if the occupancy rate of the respective areas in the vehicle is taken into account.

In concrete terms, the method according to the invention comprises the following method steps:
First of all, a forecast of the occupancy level of the vehicle in relation to the resulting situation in the vehicle after getting off at each stop is created. On the basis of this forecast, a distribution of the boarding passengers can be carried out, with a distribution of the passengers moving into the boarding area and / or ready to board in the boarding area in accordance with the forecast on the area of the doors, for an approximately equal distribution of the passengers in the vehicle . It is essential that the distribution of the passengers can already take place on the way to the specific entry areas, namely by guiding the people moving there. At the same time, a redistribution of the passengers already standing in the area of the doors can take place if the approaching train is unequally staffed and / or, according to the forecast, the passengers inside leave the vehicle in unequal conditions.

According to the invention, the passengers in the vehicle are redistributed, taking into account the forecast, preferably section-wise occupancy, and the guests actually ready to board in order to ensure an approximately equal distribution at the following stop and, consequently, to ensure that passengers get on and off as quickly as possible. The teaching of the invention is accompanied by an increase in passenger comfort, since such a distribution largely avoids jostling when getting in and / or out.

With regard to the teaching according to the invention, it should be noted that this is a method for spatially controlling the degree of occupancy of means of transport and thus a method for spatially controlling the passengers. The passengers are guided at the respective stops in such a way that the times of getting off and on and changing at the stops are reduced, which shortens the stopping times of the vehicles and increases their overall cruising speed.

The teaching according to the invention leads to an increase in the number of journeys, a shortening of the boarding and alighting times, a reduction in the total journey time, an increase in passenger comfort through an even distribution of passengers in the vehicles and possibly on the platforms, and finally to a cost saving due to a reduction the driving times.

The problems occurring in the prior art essentially result from the ignorance of the zonal occupancy level in the vehicles, which makes optimization when getting in and out almost impossible. It is only possible to distribute the passengers to the individual boarding areas of the vehicle on the basis of the forecast of the occupancy rate in the vehicle, with the result that the stopping times are reduced.

A forecast model is used to create the forecast, namely a real-time forecast model, which is used to determine the expected occupancy rate for the time after the passengers have left the respective stop. To determine the degree of occupancy, the following data is used or aggregated as part of an application of the forecast model:
For each wagon / compartment / area in the vehicle, the current occupancy rate is determined using known, automatic passenger counting systems, which are provided in the area of the doors and inside the vehicle, preferably in transition areas. The GB 2508743 A shows such a passenger counting system.

This is followed by a forecast of the number of dropouts at the next stop, especially based on past statistics. This data can be day and time dependent, for example taking into account the morning and evening rush hour, as well as taking into account specific days of the week, public holidays, vacation times, etc.

It is also possible to include a passenger volume caused by one or more events, for example taking into account the current weather. Procedures can be used here, such as those from the DE 10 2011 011 062 A1 are known. It is based on the knowledge that this is Passenger usage behavior changes depending on various influences, for example depending on the weather. In heavy rain, onset of winter, etc., public transport is more frequented than in fine weather, without obstructions in road traffic.

As already stated above, the degree of filling in the entry / exit areas and, if applicable, the local occupancy level in the vehicles is determined by passenger counting systems in the entry areas and in or on the vehicle. The data / figures determined in this way reflect the actual situation. These data are already suitable for distributing the passengers, namely the passengers moving into the boarding areas, the passengers already standing in the boarding areas and the passengers in the vehicle, if this is necessary.

The distribution of the passengers takes place in the manner according to the invention in accordance with the prognosis, namely by conveying acoustic and / or visual information to the passengers in front of the boarding area, in the boarding area and / or in the vehicle itself.

The information can be visualized information, preferably on permanently installed displays in front of or in the entry areas and / or in the vehicles.

Existing displays can be used. In this respect, the expenditure on equipment for realizing the method according to the invention is low.

The visualization can include a display of preferred entry areas in feeder areas and / or in the entry areas, so that the passengers who are moving are specifically redirected or forwarded. The display can include symbols, for example in the form of colors (red, yellow, green) or in the form of pictograms, but can also be in the form of writing. Any representation is conceivable, it being advantageous to use uniform symbols, for example pictograms.

It is also conceivable that, alternatively or additionally, the information is made available as announcements in feeder areas and / or in the boarding area and / or in the vehicle. Announcements with a synthetic voice are particularly conceivable, similar to known navigation systems in motor vehicles.

In a particularly refined way, it is conceivable that the information is made available via mobile devices, preferably by means of push messages, via organizers and apps loaded there. If such an app is installed, it could be designed in such a way that the organizer activates when approaching the stop area and - automatically - provides the information required for optimized boarding acoustically and / or visually. In this way, the passenger can be guided by an organizer to experience maximum comfort when boarding. The stopping time at the respective stop is reduced.

In addition to the provision of this information via the app, the information boards, displays, etc., which are available anyway, and the loudspeakers can be used for the acoustic display. Displays in the window area of the means of transport can also be used, for example to indicate an overcrowded compartment which is still overcrowded or well filled even after the forecast exit.

The information necessary for guiding the passengers can be processed and made available directly from the vehicles either decentrally or via a central office. The data can also be used for further processing or preparation, in particular for obtaining statistical data, which then flow back into the forecast model.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Ansicht die grundsätzliche Anwendung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens am Beispiel eines mehrere Waggons/Abteile umfassenden Zugs und

Fig. 2

in einer schematischen Ansicht das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren unter Nutzung verschiedener Informationen, wobei den Fahrgästen Informationen zum schnellen Einstieg durch unterschiedliche Anzeigeeinrichtungen bereitgestellt werden.

There are now various possibilities for advantageously designing and developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference should be made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and on the other hand to the following explanation of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing also generally preferred configurations and further developments of the teaching are explained. Show in the drawing

Fig. 1

in a schematic view the basic application of the method according to the invention using the example of a train comprising several wagons / compartments and

Fig. 2

In a schematic view, the method according to the invention using various information, the passengers being provided with information for a quick start by means of different display devices.

Figure 1 shows a train 1, which is at an indicated stop 2 or a platform. The platform comprises several platform areas 3.

The train 1 comprises several wagons 4, which can also be integral compartments.

Within the train 1, i.e. of the wagons 4 or compartments, there are passengers 5, recognizably unevenly distributed over the wagons 4 or compartments. This is due to the boarding behavior of the passengers 5 in the respective stops 2.

The method is based on a forecast of the degree of occupation of train 1, according to which it is determined how many passengers 5 get off train 1 or wagons / compartments 4 at the next stop 2. Knowledge of the current occupancy rate per wagon / compartment 4 is an advantage. On the basis of statistical data 8 from the past, a distribution instruction is calculated via a central computer 7 assigned to the train 1 or a control center 6 and made available to the passengers 5. The central computer 7, which can also be assigned to the train 1, contains the passenger guidance system, with the relevant data of individual trains 1 also being able to be linked to one another, for example in that it is recommended that passengers 5 wait a few minutes in local transport and the next train 1 to climb.

In any case, it is essential for the method according to the invention that a distribution of the passengers 5 takes place, in the simplest case at the respective stop 2 over the platform areas 3, before the compartment 4 of the train 1 coming to a stop.

Figure 2 shows in detail the function of the method according to the invention, namely the passenger control system defined thereby.

On the right side of the illustration in Figure 2 a train 1 is shown at a stop 2, the side of the train 1 the platform areas 3 with the passengers 5 waiting there are indicated. A situation is shown according to which the passengers 5 are in the platform areas 3 unevenly distributed, taking into account the forecast and on the basis of transmitted information. The uneven distribution of passengers 5 takes into account the degree of occupation of train 1 and above all the forecast exit of passengers 5 from the respective wagons 4 or compartments.

The left side of the illustration in Figure 2 shows the center 6 with the central computer 7. The central computer 7 receives various data in order to be able to create a forecast and ultimately instructions to the passengers 5. The central computer 7 thus uses statistical data 8 which are determined from the passenger behavior of the past. These statistical data 8 can be continuously revised or adapted.

The central computer 7 likewise receives information 9 from the train 1, which is primarily information 9 relating to the local occupancy rate in the train 1.

Furthermore, information relating to one or more events can be supplied to the central computer 7, for example weather data 10, it being known that passenger behavior is very heavily dependent on the weather.

All the data 8, 9 and / or 10 are fed to the central computer 7, it being possible for the central unit 6 comprising the central computer 7 to be assigned to the train 1 or a central unit.

The central computer 7 spans the passenger guidance system and, taking into account the forecast, calculates the expected occupancy rate in the respective wagons / compartments 4, after which the passengers 5 moving to the platform areas 3 or standing there 5 are given information and, if appropriate, instructions in which areas they are should preferably board, namely to reduce boarding times and to increase the comfort for passengers 5 when getting on and off. This information can be made available audiovisually, for example via a smartphone 11 or an organizer, via loudspeaker 12 and a corresponding loudspeaker announcement, via staff 13 who works on site in platform areas 3, or via display devices 14 on the way to the Platform areas 3 or in platform areas 3, as are already available for train display anyway. The provision of separate display devices 14 is possible.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention described above only serves to explain the claimed teaching, but does not restrict it to the exemplary embodiment.

Reference list

1

Train (vehicle)

2nd

Stop / platform

3rd

Platform area / boarding area

4th

Wagon / compartment

5

passenger

6

Head office (on the train or in a central office)

7

Central computer (in the headquarters)

8th

statistical data

9

Information from the train

10th

Weather data, weather-specific parameters

11

Smartphone, organizer

12th

speaker

13

staff

14

Display device, display

Claims (10)

1. Method for directing passengers of public transport at stops (2) and/or in stop regions and in the public transport means, wherein the passengers (5) board and disembark in a boarding region of the stop or the stop region which extends over the length of a vehicle (1) via at least two doors,
   wherein the following method steps are provided:

   - producing a prediction of the rate of occupation of the vehicle (1) with respect to the developing situation in the vehicle (1) after disembarkation at each stop (2) by means of a central processor (7) taking into account a filling rate in the boarding regions and a local rate of occupation in the vehicle, wherein the filling rate in the boarding regions (3) and the local occupancy rate in the vehicles (1) are established by means of passenger counting systems in the boarding regions and by means of passenger counting systems in and/or on the vehicle,

   - distributing the passengers (5) who are moving into the boarding region (3) and/or the passengers (5) who are standing ready to board in the boarding region (3) in accordance with the prediction over the region of the doors for approximate uniform distribution of the passengers (5) in the vehicle (1) by transmitting acoustic and/or visual information to the passengers (5) in front of and/or in the boarding region (3) and in the vehicle (1) and

   - distributing the passengers (5) located in the vehicle (1) taking into account the predicted, preferably partial rate of occupation and the passengers (5) actually ready to board.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a prediction model is taken as a basis in order to produce the prediction.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the prediction model takes into account the following data:

   current rate of occupation per carriage/compartment/region (4) in the vehicle;

   prediction of the number of people disembarking at the next stop, in particular using statistically established data (8) from the past;

   in particular taking into account a passenger volume caused by one or more event(s).
4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the information is provided as displayed information, preferably on fixedly installed displays (14) in front of or in the boarding regions (3) and/or in the vehicles (1).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the display comprises the display of preferred boarding regions (3) in feeder regions and/or in the boarding regions (3).
6. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that the displayed information is at least partially configured as pictograms.
7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the information is provided as announcements in feeder regions and/or in the boarding region (3) and/or in the vehicle (1).
8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the information is provided by means of mobile terminals, preferably by means of push messages via organisers (11) and applications which are loaded thereon.
9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that in order to take into account the passenger volume brought about by means of one or more event(s), weather-specific parameters (10), where applicable a prediction model based thereon relating to passenger behaviour over the course of a day/week and/or year, are used.
10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the information is prepared and made available directly from the vehicles (1) in a decentralised manner or via a central unit (6).

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