GB2219883A

GB2219883A - Supplying transport and traffic information

Info

Publication number: GB2219883A
Application number: GB8814286A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raul Krister Sturedahl
Original assignee: RAULA SCANDINAVIAN MARKETING H
Current assignee: RAULA SCANDINAVIAN MARKETING H
Priority date: 1986-12-17
Filing date: 1988-06-16
Publication date: 1989-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-16
Also published as: NO875244D0; NO875244L; DE3742707A1; GB8814286D0; DK659987D0; GB2219883B; DK659987A

Description

"7

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Title: "Method of supplying transport and traffic information automatically and apparatus for carrying out the method" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a method for supplying transport and traffic information automatically, for example in relation to public transport systems, and to apparatus for carrying out the method.

In public transport systems utilising omnibuses, the increasingly congested traffic conditions of the present day make increased demands upon the bus-drivers, requiring increased concentration in driving and making any distraction of the drivers by passengers increasingly dangerous. This is so particularly when weather and driving conditions are bad. At the same time, there is an increasing need for passengers to be supplied with information as to stopping places, times of arrival at specified points on the route, etc. Requests to bus drivers by passengers for such information tend to increase in cold or wet conditions in which rain or condensation on the windows of buses make it difficult for passengers to look out and determine by direct observation the position which the bus has reached along its- route, so that passengers require such information from the driver in order to know when to prepare to alight from the vehicle. Likewise, when a bus is crowded and passengers are standing, it is difficult for the standing passengers to see properly through the windows in order to derive the information required as to the approach of desired stops.

There is likewise a demdnd for a means whereby managers of such public transport systems can obtain an up-to-date overall survey of the traffic situation so that they can determine, for example, where extra buses 5 should be provided or where buses have been delayed. There is likewise a demand for some means of providing continuous statistical information regarding the numbers of passengers boarding buses and alighting from buses at different stopping places at different times and on different days in order to improve control of the transport system to meet the demands thereon more effectively.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a method of automatically providing an occupant of a vehicle with information relating to locations visited by the vehicle and a system whereby the method may be carried out, and which requires no intervention by the driver of the vehicle.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of automatically providing an occupant of a vehicle with information relating to locations visited by the vehicle, comprising providing trans- mitters at said locations adapted to transmit information to vehicles visiting said locations and a receiver on said vehicle adapted to receive said information and to provide such information in audible and/or visual form to an occupant of the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a system whereby an occupant of a vehicle may be provided with information relating to locations visited by the vehicle, which system comprises respective transmitters provided at a plurality of said locations, and a receiver carried by said vehicle and adapted to receive signals from the respective transmitter when the 1 respective said location is visited by the vehicle, and to relay the information to an occupant of the vehicle.

A method and system embodying the invention may allow, for example, for advertising purposes, shops and other concerns to provide information and/or advertising or commercial publicity regarding their goodsq products or activities to the passengers in a public or private transport vehicle as the vehicle passes the location where the shops or other concerns in question are located.

It is envisaged that the method and system of the invention will be of particular usefulness when applied to providing, to passengers in public transport vehicles such as omnibuses, information regarding the next stopping place, in advance of the stopping place being reached, without the need for intervention by the driver of the vehicle. A fully automatic information system meeting the objects of the invention does not exist today.

Position transmitters of different kinds and utilising different techniques exist today and are used in automatic facilities for giving information about the position of a movable object in space or for identifying an object passing a fixed location. One drawback of existing position transmitters is that these require continuous voltage support. Other transmitters give coded information if they are irradiated with energy from an interrogating unit. An example of a system of the latter type is the microwave system PREMID.

In one embodiment of the invention, the system is arranged to give passengers in a public transport vehicle information about the next stopping place well before the vehicle stops, without the active intervention of the driver. The system may provide this information to the passengers in the form of an audible announcement for example provided by a speech synthesiser and/or visually by means of a visual display.

A system embodying the invention may also operate to provide the managers of a public transport service for example, with information as to the whereabouts of individual public transport vehicles on their respective routes together with information as to any delays, such information being provided to a central control Qr management station. The system may also be arranged to provide information as to the numbers of passengers boarding and alighting from each vehicle in the system at respective times and places, allowing the managers of the system to determine whether extra vehicles should be provided on some roul-es. Furthermore, the system may be arrang(d to provide ticket inspection on each vehicle. It is contemplated that ticket issuing machines will be provided arranged to indicate and charge the correct fares according to zone and time divisions.

As indicated above, the system may be arranged to give additional information or commercial publicity from shops or other commercial concerns placed along the route of the vehicle. The automatic announcement and/or display provided by the system can direct passengers to look in the correct direction as well as providing the respective information or advertising material audibly and on the display.

By way of example, a variant of the system, used by a taxi service, might divide a city into a number of zones and might allow a centralised control station to 35 call directly the available taxi nearest to the place required. The system could also by used by police, fire -or ambulance services. A similar system would allow authorities monitoring and controlling transportation of dangerous materials to have continuous information regarding the vehicles used for such transportation. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a single such 5 system embodying the invention might be utilised simultaneously by several such authorities.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided, at each relevant location, a respective ATI transmitter which uses inductive transmission (frequency 10-100 kHz), this transmitter being supplied with electrical power from a built-in battery, preferably with a.re-charging device and means to re-charge the battery from solar cells or from electromagnetic or other energy provided thereto by passing vehicles, for example vehicles incorporated in the system.

Preferably, in order to minimise current drain on the batteries of the ATI position transmitters, each such transmitter is arranged to operate on a minimum current basis and may, in particular, be arranged to consume only a very small stand-by current during periods when the transmitter is not active in transmitting to an adjacent vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of a system embodying the invention in a public transport system utilising omnibusesp FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the system, FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating the ATI position transmitter in the system for giving automatic traffic information, FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating the part of the system mounted in-each vehicle, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating an omnibus utilising the system passing a stationary ATI position transmitter, FIGURE 6 is a block diagram similar to Figure 3, FIGURES 7A and 7B are respective parts of a circuit diagram of an ATI position transmitter and FIGURES 8A and 8B are respective parts of a circuit diagram of the receiver mounted in each vehicle in the system.

In the system to be described below and to which Figure 1 relates, there is provided, at each stop along a bus route, a fixed installation including an ATI position transmitter, with a unique code which gives, to an appropriate receiver, information about its position along the route and/or relating to the area around the transmitter. Such receivers are carried by the buses in the system and the respective information is transmitted by each ATI position transmitter only as the respective bus passes the respective location. On the basis of the information thus transmitted to it, the apparatus carried by each bus is arranged to:

1. Display information as to the respective stop (the ATI position transmitter may be positioned somewhat in advance of the actual stop).

2. To provide an audible announcement of the stop and its identity, for example by means of a digital speech synthesiser.

3. Produce a display, both within the bus and on the outside of the latter, of the destination and route number.

4. Display or otherwise relay commercial publicity, advertising material or information appropriate to the location and either transmitted directly by the ATI position transmitter or triggered by a unique code transmitted by the ATI position transmitter.

5. Control a ticket machine appropriately according to the respective zone and time division and to set the appropriate fare.

6. Count the passengers boarding or alighting and to correlate the resultant count, for statistical purposes, in relation to the zone in which the stop is located and the time.

7. Transmit information as to the exact position of the vehicle to a central traffic management facility or control station, for example by radio or cellular telephone network.

8. Transmit signals to facilities arranged to ensure that priority will be given to the vehicle when it reaches a traffic-lights controlled crossing ahead of the vehicle on its route.

Figure 2 illustrates an omnibus on a route along which respective ATI position transmitters are provided at intervals. The bus is illustrated schematically as transmitting information to a central traffic management facility (schematically indicated as a block) which in turn is illustrated as transmitting information to an information centre (schematically illustrated as a further block).

Figure 3 is a diagram showing both the transmitting-and receiving part in the ATI position transmitter. The receiving part contains an antenna winding 1 for reception and transmission and an amplifier 2, a band pass filter 3 and a detector 4 with a time-fixed switchoff and a unit 5 for switching on the transmitting part. Furthermore, in Figure 3 a transmitting part can be seen containing a coder 6, a pulse generator 7 and a frequency change generator 8 as well as a power amplifier 9.

Connected to the transmitter part is a battery 10 provided with a battery charging unit 11.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus which is mounted on the vehicle and which includes an antenna 12. As explained below, when the vehicle reaches or passes the vicinity of an ATI position transmitter, the apparatus mounted on the vehicle first transmits a signal to the ATI unit of Figure 3, via the antenna 12, to cause the ATI unit to begin transmitting. When the ATI position transmitter sends its code via antenna winding 1 a signal will be induced in antenna 12 containing the code of the ATI position transmitter. This signal will be amplified in the amplifier 13 and will be filtered out in the bandpass filter 14. The frequency change in the signal will be detected in the binding detector 15. The detected pulse train will be decoded in a decoder 16, whereafter the code will be transferre4 to the CPU-unit 17, which is the trigger unit and the computer's brain. All the other functions are directed to this unit 17, either via the I/0-unit 19 or directly. The transmitter part 20 of the vehicle installation transmits radio-frequency signals via the antenna 12. A tacho generator 21 is shown which is used for giving information about the movement of the vehicle as well as the distance driven. An internal terminal 18 is connected to the equipment in order to make possible communication between man and the equip- ment. Figure 4 also shows various different facilities2 including a stopping place display 22, a loudspeaker 23, a commercial publicity display 24, a ticket machine 26 as well as a unit 27 for counting passengers and a further unit 28 for communication with the managing central control station.

In Figure 5 the system can be seen installed in a vehicle. This vehicle is shown reaching a stopping place containing an ATI position transmitter. The antenna winding I receives a signal from a transmitter 12 placed in the vehicle. The transmitted signal affects the ATI position transmitter and stimulates the ATI transmitter to give a unique signal, which will be received in turn by the receiver in the vehicle. Thereafter a signal will be produced automatically via the computer in the vehicle to give information via a display 11 about the next stopping place. Also in Figure 5 is shown an internal terminal 18 and the CPU-unit 17 on the vehicle.

In Figure 6 is seen antenna winding 31 which can receive a signal, having a frequency fl, from a trans mitter. The receiving part of the ATI position trans mitter is tuned to this frequency fl. The signal induced in the antenna winding 31 will be amplified in the amplifier 32. Thereafter the signal will be filtered in a band pass filter 33 tuned to the frequency fl. In the detector 34 the signal will be detected at a certain adjustable level. The detector 34 will affect the unit 35 for switching on, in order to furnish the transmitting part in the ATI position transmitter with its supply voltage during a certain adjustable time so that the transmitting part is switched to function for this period. From a coder 36 the pulse generator 37 will be coded, in order to create a pulse train carrying the appropriate information. The pulse train is modulated in the frequency change generator 38 so that 11111 corresponds 5 to a frequency f2 and 11011 corresponds-to a frequency f3.

The frequency modulated pulse train produced in this manner is amplified in a power amplifier 39 which applies the signal to the antenna winding 31.

The ATI position transmitter is furnished with a battery 40 for voltage supply. The receiver part is constantly connected to the battery 40, while the transmitter part is connected to the battery with help of the receiver part as indicated above, only when it is required to transmit its code. This arrangement serves to minimise the current drain on the battery 40. The battery.40 can also be charged from a solar cell or other externally placed recharging equipment.

Where mains electricity is available, the ATI position transmitter may, of course, be powered by the mains supply instead of by a battery.

Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of the ATI position transmitter and in order to minimise the current drain of the battery 40 the ATI position transmitter has been constructed so that when the transmitting part is inoperative this part is completely currentless. The receiving part of the ATI position transmitter is so constructed that it draws relatively little current from the battery 40. The period for which the transmitting part of the ATI position transmitter is switched on is controlled by circuit IC2.

The length of the last-noted period is adjustable and applies to the application in which the transmission is included. The ATI position transmitter is transmitting continuously the code set on the coder 36 during the time for which this transmi - tter is switched on. A coded pulse train is received by the circuits IC1 and IC3. The frequency is settled by the crystal. The crystal is also used to derive the frequencies used in the frequency shift keying for the transmitted signal. The same antenna winding 31 is used for both transmission and receiving.

Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of the mobile part where the sensitivity control consists of a transmitting and a receiving part. The transmitting part is continuously transmitting a frequency fl to which the receiving part of the ATI position transmitter is tuned. The receiving part of the sensitivity control consists of a head amplifier, a band pass filter, a binding detector and an encoder.

The code from the ATI position transmitter is passed in binary parallel form from the encoder. The code can thereafter be treated in the following trigger unit or computer.

The system gives automatic information to the driver and/or passenger in a vehicle about its position along a route or in an area. For example information about the next stopping place may be given automatically.

A trigger unit/computer placed in the vehicle receives the above mentioned information. An ATI position transmitter at each stopping place is trans mitting a code to a receiver. Here it is possible to use inductive-, microwave-, radio-, infra-, laser-, or ultrasonics transmission. The trigger unit/computer encodes the position and shows the name of the next stopping place at a display and gives the information e.g. by programmed digital sound by means of a voice synthesiser or via the other communication equipment inside the vehicle, to the occupants. The CPU unit has capacity of storing data for later treatment in other computer systems for statistical purposes. The apparatus may also have further functions as mentioned above. For the ATI position transmitters codes and information for several routes can be stored and the appropriate codes and information will be transmitted depending on unique 10 signals received from passing vehicles.

1

Claims

1. A method of automatically providing an occupant of 5- a vehicle with information relating to locations visited by the vehicle, comprising providing transmitters at said locations adapted to transmit information to vehicles visiting said locations and a receiver on said vehicle adapted to receive said information and to provide such information in audible and/or visual form to an occupant of the vehicle.

2. A system whereby an occupant of a vehicle may be provided with information relating to locations visited by the vehicle, which system comprises respective transmitters provided at a plurality of said locations, and a receiver carried by said vehicle and adapted to receive signals from the respective transmitter when the respective said location is visited by the vehicle, and to relay the information to an occupant of the vehicle.

3. A method of automatically giving continuously traffic- and/or transportation information to the driver and/or the passenger on a vehicle, characterised in that at each stopping place is fixed equipment including an ATI position transmitter with a unique code which gives information about the exact position of a vehicle along a traffic route and/or area and information about next coming stopping place, which is shown on a display and/or announced by digitalised sound or in which the destination and number of the route is consequently displayed inside and outside the vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 3 characterised in that relaying to occupants of commercial publicity and/or information about objects along the route of the vehicle is made via a display directed by the ATI position transmitters at each stopping place and a control of the ticket machine for zone- and time division for statistics and indication of position to a central management station.

5. Means for carrying out the method according to claim 3 or claim 4 to automatically give traffic-and/or transportation information to the driver or passengers on a vehicle characterised in that at each stopping place along the route is placed an ATI position transmitter including an antenna winding 1 for receiving and transmitting, an amplifier 2, a band pass filter 3 and a detector 4 with time controlled switch-off and further a unit 5 for switching on of the transmitting part and a coder 6 and a pulse generator 7 and also a frequency change generator 8 and a power amplifier 9 as well as a battery 10 and a recharging device 11 and that this ATI position transmitter is activated by a signal from a passing vehicle whereas a unique code is transmitted via the antenna winding 1.

6. Means for carrying out the method according to any of claims 3 to 5 automatically giving traffic and/or transportation information to the driver and/or the passenger on a vehicle characterised in that on each vehicle is placed an antenna 12 which first is transmitting a signal for activating the ATI position transmitter and thereafter receives the code which the ATI position transmitter transmits and which code then is amplified in an amplifier 13 and filtered in a band pass filter 14 and in a binding detector 15 which detects frequency changes and encoded in an encoder 16 whereafter the code is transferred to a -CPU unit 17 and from here gives a message on a stopping place display 22 and by a loudspeaker 23 and further are functions connected to a ticket machine 26 and a commercial publicity display 24.

7. Means according to claim 6 characterised by a connection from the CPU unit 17 to a unit 27 for counting passengers and a unit 28 for communication with a central managing station.

8. Means according to claims 6 and 7 characterised in that a tacho generator 21 is connected to the means for giving information about movement of the vehicle and accumulated distance driven.

9. Means according to any of claims 5 to 8 characterised in that the transfer of information from the ATI position transmitter to the receiver in the vehicle or vice versa is made by inductive-, microwave-, radio-, infra-, laser-, or ultrasonics transmission.

10. Means according to claims 5 to 8 characterised in that the ATI position transmitter consists of a receiving part and a transmitting part containing an antenna 20 winding 31, an amplifier 329 a band pass filter 33, a detector 34, a unit 35 for switching on the transmitting part, a coder 36, a pulse generator 379 a frequency change generator 38, a power amplifier 39, a battery 40 and a recharge device 41 and further that the receiving part by inductive transmission switches on the transmitting part and that this connection is time controlled by a switch-off IC2 in the detector 34.

11. Means according to claim 10 characterised in that both the transmitting and the receiving part in the ATI position transmitter use the same antenna winding 31.

12. Means according to claim 10 or claim 11 characterised in that, in the ATI position transmitter, during the switching-on time, the coder 36 transmits a programmed code, which by passing the circuits IC1 and IC3 gives a coded pulse train and that the frequency is determinated by the crystal and that the same crystal is used for frequency change generating.

13. Means according to claims 10 to 12 characterised in that, in the ATI position transmitter, the crystal in the sensitivity control in a mobile part is used for directing both the detection and the frequency change and for encoding the pulse train.

14. A method of supplying transport, traffic or other information automatically, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -

15. A system for supplying transport, traffic or other information automatically, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.

4 Published 1989 at The Patent Office, State House. 66'711 High Holborn. London WClR4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The PatAnt Office.

Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. 1/87