GB2558581A

GB2558581A - Wireless ticketing system for passengers on a transport network

Info

Publication number: GB2558581A
Application number: GB1700253.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peschkoff Alexander; Baranov Alexander; Acklam Jeremy
Original assignee: Tedipay Uk Ltd
Current assignee: Tedipay Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-06
Filing date: 2017-01-06
Publication date: 2018-07-18
Also published as: GB201700253D0

Abstract

A system and method for ticketing a user for use of transport, such as travel on rail or metro networks. Mobile communications devices are used to identify their own location, through GPS or station beacons 70; provide a starting location based on the identified location; receive an input of a destination location and transmit a permit request including the start location, destination location, and an identifier for either the mobile device or the user to a monitoring system. The monitoring system receives the permit request from a mobile device and grants the request by storing data representing the start location, the destination location, and the identifier derived from the permit request. The system generates an indicium, preferably a barcode, and transmits it to the mobile device. The indicium can be displayed on the device, acting as a travel permit. The monitoring system is arranged to conduct a review for one or more identifiers in the stored data; generate ticketing information by applying a ticketing algorithm to the stored data; and make a payment request based on the ticketing information. The invention enables the issuing of tickets to users based on multiple journeys taken by the user over a time period.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Tedipay (UK) Ltd.

Eastbourne Terrace, London, W2 6LG,

United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Alexander Peschkoff Alexander Baranov Jeremy Acklam (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Boult Wade Tennant

Verulam Gardens, 70 Gray's Inn Road, LONDON, WC1X 8BT, United Kingdom (56) Documents Cited:

EP 3109818 A1 US 20150348334 A1

US 20130268304 A1 US 20110060600 A1 US 20100017275 A1 US 20080215380 A1

George Muir, 24 Sept 2015, Best thing since magstripe tickets, Passenger Transport [online] Available from:http:// www.passengertransport.co.uk/2015/09/best-thingsince-magstripe-tickets/, [Accessed 27/06/2017] Shaun Hickey, 27 Mar 2016, The innovators: virtual train pass that grabs the best fare even after travel, Guardian, [online], Available from:https:// www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/27/theinnovators-virtual-train-pass-best-fare-after-travelledmultipass-british-rail [Accessed 27/06/2017] (58) Field of Search:

INT CL G06Q, G07B

Other: WPI, EPODOC, Internet (54) Title of the Invention: Wireless ticketing system for passengers on a transport network Abstract Title: Wireless ticketing system for passengers on a transport network (57) A system and method for ticketing a user for use of transport, such as travel on rail or metro networks. Mobile communications devices are used to identify their own location, through GPS or station beacons 70; provide a starting location based on the identified location; receive an input of a destination location and transmit a permit request including the start location, destination location, and an identifier for either the mobile device or the user to a monitoring system. The monitoring system receives the permit request from a mobile device and grants the request by storing data representing the start location, the destination location, and the identifier derived from the permit request. The system generates an indicium, preferably a barcode, and transmits it to the mobile device. The indicium can be displayed on the device, acting as a travel permit. The monitoring system is arranged to conduct a review for one or more identifiers in the stored data; generate ticketing information by applying a ticketing algorithm to the stored data; and make a payment request based on the ticketing information. The invention enables the issuing of tickets to users based on multiple journeys taken by the user over a time period.

' -^50

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At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

04 18 /2 ^50

FIG. 1

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FIG. 2

Application No. GB1700253.6

RTM

Date :29 June 2017

Intellectual

Property

Office

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

Wi-Fi (Pages 1, 4)

QR-Code (Page 6)

Bluetooth (Pages 6, 8)

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

WIRELESS TICKETING SYSTEM FOR PASSENGERS ON A TRANSPORT NETWORK

The present invention relates to systems and methods for issuing tickets for a transport system. In particular, the invention provides systems and methods for enabling the issuing of tickets to users based on multiple journeys by the provision of an additional monitoring system that records issued permits to travel and/or journey routes taken by the user.

As used herein, the term “ticket” denotes an electronic token representing a trip or set of trips for which a payment is payable based on a transport providers payment scheme. “Ticketing information” is therefore information identifying which “ticket” is appropriate for a user’s travel history (e.g., a return ticket or a weekly ticket).

There are no currently available satisfactory mobile ticket purchasing schemes that allow a user to benefit from ad hoc and flexible ticketing.

According to the invention, there is provided a system and a method defined by the claims.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference is now made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a station in which the invention may be applied.

Figure 1 shows that the system 1 comprises: a monitoring system 10 and a plurality of mobile communications devices 20. Each mobile communications device 20 can be carried by a user and store an identifier representing the mobile communications device 20 and/or the user.

The mobile communications device 20 and the monitoring system 10 are in communication. For example, they may communicate wirelessly, either directly or via a wireless network (which may be a mobile telephone network, a Wi-Fi network or some other form of network).

The monitoring system 10 is a computer system comprising a memory 11, a processor 12, and a network connection and/or a wireless communications device 13.

The processor is arranged to generate am indicium 40 (discussed below).

The network connection and/or the wireless communications device 13 is arranged to receive electronic permit requests from mobile communications devices 20 and for sending the indicium 40 to the mobile communications device 20.

The memory 11 is arranged to store a plurality of entries representing journeys of each of the users (the entries derived from electronic permit requests as discussed below). Each entry represents a starting location 21a, a destination location 21b, and an identifier.

The monitoring system 10 is arranged to periodically review for each identifier the stored data in order to establish the appropriate type of ticket(s) for each user. Alternatively, the monitoring system 10 may carry out the review on receipt of an electronic permit request. For this purpose, a ticketing algorithm is provided.

In one embodiment, the monitoring system 10 may be arranged to periodically review for each identifier (and thereby for each user) the stored data received within one or more predetermined periods of time, such as a particular day or week (for example, from midnight to the present time from Monday to the present time). The monitoring system 10 can generate ticketing information by applying a ticketing algorithm to the stored data for each identifier within that predetermined period. For example, the data received from all of the electronic permit requests received that day could be reviewed and the data received from all of the electronic permit requests received that week could be reviewed. The ticketing algorithm can thereby determine the most appropriate ticket for each identifier.

Alternatively, or in addition, the monitoring system 10 may be arranged to carry out a review on receipt of an electronic permit request. For the identifier in the received electronic permit request (and thereby the associated user), the stored data received within one or more predetermined periods of time (such as a day or week) may be reviewed. The monitoring system 10 can generate ticketing information for that user by applying a ticketing algorithm to the stored data for each identifier within those predetermined periods,

-3whereby the ticketing algorithm can determine the most appropriate ticket for that identifier/user.

In either case, the monitoring system 10 is preferably arranged to review the stored data received over more than one period of time and apply the ticketing algorithm to each. For example, the monitoring system 10 may be arranged to review the stored data received over a day and apply the ticketing algorithm over the stored data received that day (for example, from 0:00am that morning until the present time) to establish if a day ticket is suitable and also apply the ticketing algorithm over the stored data received for a week (for example, from 0:00am the previous Monday until the present time) to establish if a weekly ticket is suitable.

The ticketing algorithm calculates an appropriate type of ticket(s) and the corresponding sum for the user to pay for the journeys carried out over a predetermined period, for example, for one week. In this way, the user can take advantage of deals, such as return fares, daily travel cards or weekly travel cards.

The monitoring system 10 can instruct one or more payment processing servers to effect a payment based on the ticketing information. In contrast to the currently available systems which typically require payment at the time of ticket purchase or in advance, this can be done retrospectively irrespective of the exact time of purchase of the ticket (for example, every night, or once per week). Thus, by using the monitoring system 10 to grant an electronic permit request and store the associated data, there is no immediate need to issue a ticket/effect a payment, which would otherwise force a traveller to choose a particular ticket (single, return, day pass, weekly pass, etc.) before travelling. The user of the present system is therefore free to make use of the optimal available ticket after travelling.

The ticketing algorithm is applied for each identifier by generating a desired payment based on the recorded electronic permit requests that were granted over a predetermined period of time.

The monitoring system 10 instructs a payment processing server 50 to effect a payment from an account associated with the identifier based on the ticketing information.

-4The payment processing servers 50 may be separate from the monitoring system 10 and can be maintained by third parties.

Each mobile communications device 20 may be, for example, a mobile telephone with a display 21 and input means 22 (which may collectively form a touch screen), and communication electronics 23 for transmitting and receiving data.

The mobile communications devices 20 may each comprise location sensing means 24 arranged to identify the mobile communications device's location.

One option is that the mobile telephone has a wireless receiver 23 with which a comparison of signals received from a plurality of transmitters of known locations may be used. Those transmitters may, for example, be GPS satellites 60 or land-based transmitters such as cell towers, local Wi-Fi hubs, or dedicated fixed or movable beacons 70 that will be discussed below. As would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art, the wireless receiver of the location sensing means 24 could be the communications means 23 of the mobile communications device 20.

Alternatively, the mobile communications device 20 can simply determine its location as being the same as that of a dedicated fixed or movable beacons 70 (discussed below) having a known location if it is close enough to sense a transmission from that beacon 70. For example, the beacon 70 could have a short range such that the transmission cannot be sensed beyond a predetermined distance (optionally, in a predetermined direction).

The mobile communications device 20 may store computer program code. For example, this may be an app stored on a mobile telephone. When executed, the computer program code provides a user interface 25 for a user of the mobile communications device 20 that can take an input of starting and destination locations 21a, 21b for a journey to be taken.

The starting and destination locations 21a, 21b can be stops of a transport network, such as train or underground/metro stations, or bus or tram stops.

In order to prevent a user from misrepresenting a starting location 21a, the mobile communications device 20 can provide a starting location 21a based on the identified location provided by the location sensing means 24. That is to say that it is preferable that

-5the mobile communication device 20 cannot provide a starting location 21a that is not based on the identified location.

For example, the mobile communication device 20 can provide a starting location 21a that is based on the identified location by providing a single starting location 21a within a predetermined range of the identified location. If there are multiple nearby possible starting locations 21a, the mobile communication device 20 can provide to the user a list of the starting locations 21a within the predetermined range of the identified location and the user can select one of the plurality of starting locations 21a.

The user can then input a destination location 21b into the mobile communications device 20.

Once both the starting and destination locations 21a, 21b have been determined, an electronic permit request may be transmitted to the monitoring system. The electronic permit request includes the starting location 21a, the destination location 21b, and the identifier.

The mobile communications device 20 is arranged to wirelessly receive an indicium 40 from the monitoring system and to display the indicium 40 on request by a user.

The monitoring system 10 is arranged to receive an electronic permit request from the mobile communications devices 20 and in response to each of these: store data representing the start location 21a, the destination location 21b, and the identifier derived from the electronic permit request; generate an indicium 40 using the processor 12, and wirelessly send the indicium 40 to the mobile communications device 20 that sent the associated electronic permit request. Preferably, the monitoring system 10 can also verify that it generated an indicium 40 when it receives one.

With the indicium, the user 20 can establish that a journey from a starting location 21 a to a destination location 21b has been permitted in advance.

The processor 12 is arranged to generate an indicium 40 by encoding into a machine readable image at least the start location 21a and the destination location 21b of an electronic permit request, and, optionally, the time of generation of the indicium.

-6The machine readable image may be a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and/or a QR code 40 (for example, a QR code meeting the Μ-Ticket standard of UK National Rail). As an alternative, or in addition, the indicium 40 may be a transmittable code, presentable, for example, by RFID or Bluetooth or the like. Thus, the indicium 40 may be output by: visually displaying the indicium 40; and/or transmitting the indicium 40.

The system 1 may additionally comprise a number of movable barriers 90, for example in stations, which when closed would prevent a user from passing. The barrier 90 may be connected to a reader 91 for reading indicia 40 presented by a user.

Each barrier 90 is arranged to open on presentation of a valid indicium 40 (i.e. an indicium 40 that was generated by the monitoring system 10) by a user, but not to open if the indicium 40 is not verified. Either the barrier 90 may be arranged to verify the indicium 40 itself, or it may be in communication with the monitoring system 10 for verifying that the monitoring system 10 generated the indicium 40.

The system 1 may additionally comprise a number of portable authentication devices 100, each having a reader 101 arranged to read an indicium 40 presented by a user and indicate whether the indicium 40 is verified. Either the portable authentication device 100 may be arranged to verify the indicium 40 itself, or it may be in communication with the monitoring system 10 for verifying that the monitoring system 10 generated the indicium 40.

In the most preferred version of the system 1 shown in Figure 2, the system 1 further comprises a plurality of beacons 70 at known locations. As mentioned above, the beacon 70 has a predefined range (by which is meant that the power of transmission of the beacon 70 is only great enough to be sensed by a mobile communications device 20 within the predefined range).

Each beacon 70 is arranged to periodically transmit a coded message 73. This coded message 73 could be used by a mobile communications device 20 to determine its own location by receiving the coded message 73 directly from at least one of the beacons 70 and verifying the coded message 73 with the monitoring system 10 (by directly is meant that no intermediate networks are used to re-transmit the message). The mobile communications device 20 can then determine that it has a location based on the location

-7of the beacon 70 (which may be transmitted as part of the coded message 73, may be known in advance, or may be obtainable from the monitoring system 10).

The monitoring system 10 may store a hash to be applied by each beacon 70 (for example, a hash unique to each beacon 70) and so can recreate the coded message 73 for verification.

The mobile communications device 20 can verify the coded message 73 with the monitoring system 10 by sending the coded message 73 to the monitoring system 10 and receiving an indication in reply that the coded message 73 is genuine, or by receiving a coded message 73 from the monitoring system 10 and confirming that they match.

Each beacon 70 may, optionally, be arranged to generate the coded message 73 by applying a hash to a security code. The security code comprises: a fixed key identifying that beacon; and, optionally, a rolling code that varies periodically and/or sequentially (i.e. follows a predetermined pattern). The rolling code most preferably updates periodically, in particular, daily.

Preferably, the coded message 73 and/or security code further comprises one or more of: a label identifying the system 1; a label identifying location of that beacon 70; a current time; and/or a current date.

To determine the current time and/or date, each beacon 70 may comprise a GPS receiver 72 with which a signal representative of the current time (GPS satellites 60 transmit signals encoding current time).

The beacon 70 can have an internal clock and can update the clock periodically, for example daily, or as soon as possible thereafter if the signal from the GPS satellite 60 is temporarily lost. Optionally, the beacon 70 can communicate with other beacons 70 and receive times therefrom (for example, one beacon 70 can provide the current time to one or more other beacons 70).

As discussed above, the power of transmission 73 of a single beacon 70 can be low enough such that the mobile communications device 20 can assume that it shares the same location as the beacon 70 (for example, the power may be selected such that the

-8mobile communications device 20 can sense the signal 73 transmitted by the beacon 70 only with a predetermined range such as, for example, 10m). Alternatively, multiple beacons 70 can be used for triangulation of the mobile communications device 20.

Each beacon 70 preferably transmits UHF waves (e.g., Bluetooth) of frequency in the range 2.4 to 2.485 GHz.

Each beacon 70 is preferably battery powered.

Since it is important to ensure the location of the beacons 70, preferably, each beacon 70 comprises an accelerometer 74 arranged to deactivate the beacon 70 in response to movement. Alternatively, or in addition, each beacon comprises a sensor 75 arranged to sense the presence of a location verification component 110 mounted nearby and to deactivate the beacon 70 if the location verification component is not sensed. The location verification component 110 may be, for example, an NFC, RFID, device that emits a periodic or continuous signal 111.

One or more of the beacons 70 may comprise a reflector 71 to provide a directional transmission pattern, for example by preventing the transmission of the coded message in at least one direction. In this way, the beacons 70 may be placed within a particular location, such as a station, each beacon 70 can be positioned to provide the coded message 73 only to mobile communications devices 10 within a predetermined zone.

The above-described system may be applied in a vehicle 120. The vehicle 120 comprises an entry point 121 and a plurality of seats 122 for carrying passengers. The vehicle 120 also comprises some locating means 123 for indicating its location (for example, the GPS of a beacon or its own device).

A first beacon 70a may be provided as an entry beacon. A second beacon 70b may be provided as a general beacon.

The entry beacon 70a is arranged to provide a directional transmission of its coded message 73 (for example, because a reflector 71a is provided). The directional transmission 73a encompasses the entry point 121. The transmission 73a of the entry beacon 71 a to each mobile communications device 20 allows the mobile communications

-9device 20 to determine its own location and thereby provide a starting location 21a. The starting location 21a may be given by the locating means 123 of the vehicle 120 as evaluated at the time that the mobile communication device 20 senses the entry beacon 21a.

The general beacon 70b provides a transmission of a coded message 73b that encompasses at least the seats 122. This can be used to confirm that a user 20 remains on the vehicle 120.

In order to ensure that the user does not stay on the vehicle 120 for longer than permitted by the monitoring system 10, each mobile communications device 20 may be arranged to receive an input via input means 22 indicating that the user is disembarking the vehicle 120 and to wirelessly transmit a disembarkation confirmation to the monitoring system. It is possible to allow the mobile communications device 20 to send the disembarkation confirmation to the monitoring system 10 only after confirming that the mobile communications device 20 has not sensed a general beacon 70b within a predetermined period of time.

In preferred embodiments, the entry beacons 70a of the vehicle 120 comprises a motion sensor that disables the entry beacon 70a when the vehicle 120 is in motion.

More preferably, entry beacon 70a may only be activated both when the motion sensor indicates that the beacon 70a is stationary and when locating means 123 (either independent from, or forming part of, the entry beacon 70a) indicates that the vehicle 120 is in the vicinity of a station or stop.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system for ticketing a user for the use of a mode of transport, the system comprising a monitoring system and a plurality of mobile communications devices, wherein:

• each mobile communications device is arranged to:

- identifying its own location;

- provide a starting location based on the identified location;

- receive an input of a destination location;

- wirelessly transmit an electronic permit request to the monitoring system, the electronic permit request including the start location, the destination location, and an identifier for identifying at least one of the mobile communications device or the user;

- wirelessly receive an indicium from the monitoring system; and

- output the indicium on request by a user;

• the monitoring system is arranged to receive an electronic permit request from a first mobile communications device and in response thereto grant the request by:

- storing data representing the start location, the destination location, and the identifier derived from the electronic permit request;

- generating an indicium; and sending the indicium to the first mobile communications device;

• the monitoring system is arranged to periodically and/or on receipt of an electronic permit request:

review for one or more identifier the stored data received over a first period of time;

- generate ticketing information by applying a ticketing algorithm to some or all of the stored data; and

- instruct one or more payment processing servers to effect a payment based on the ticketing information.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is arranged to periodically:

review for each identifier the stored data received over the first period of time; generate ticketing information for each identifier by applying a ticketing algorithm to the associated stored data from the first period of time; and

- 11 instruct one or more payment processing servers to effect a payment based on the ticketing information, and/or the monitoring system is arranged on receipt of an electronic permit request to: review for the identifier in that received electronic permit request the stored data received over the first period of time;

generate ticketing information by applying a ticketing algorithm to the stored data from the first period of time; and instruct one or more payment processing servers to effect a payment based on the ticketing information.
3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each mobile communication device communicates with the monitoring system using one or more first wireless networks.
4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein each mobile communication device cannot provide a starting location that is not based on the identified location.
5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein at least one mobile communication device:

comprises a GPS unit for identifying its own location;

comprises a wireless receiver for identifying its own location based on a comparison of signals received from a plurality of transmitters of known locations; and/or comprises a wireless receiver for identifying its own location based on a received location transmitted by a beacon forming part of the system.
6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein each mobile communication device is a mobile telephone comprising: communication electronics for transmitting and receiving data; and a display for displaying the indicium; and/or a transmitter arranged to transmit the indicium.
7. The system of any preceding claim, wherein each mobile communication device provides a starting location that is based on the identified location by providing a single starting location within a predetermined range of the identified location, or by:

listing a plurality of starting locations within the predetermined range of the identified location; and receiving an input of one of the plurality of starting locations.

- 12
8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring system is a computer system comprising:

a memory for storing data representing the start location, the destination location, and the identifier derived from the electronic permit request;

a processor for generate an indicium; and a network connection for receiving electronic permit requests from mobile communications devices and for sending the indicium to the first mobile communications device.
9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein:

the ticketing algorithm is applied for each identifier by generating a desired ticket based on the electronic permit requests granted over a predetermined period of time; and the monitoring system instructs a payment processing server to effect a desired payment from an account associated with the identifier, based on the generated ticket.
10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined period of time is one week.
11. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the payment processing servers are remote from the monitoring system.
12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring system is arranged to generate an indicium by encoding at least the start location and the destination location of an electronic permit request into a machine readable image or code.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitoring system is also arranged to encode the time of generation of the indicium into the machine readable image or code.
14. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising a number of movable barriers, each arranged to:

read an indicium presented by a user; open if the indicium is verified; and remain closed if the indicium is not verified.

- 1315. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising a number of portable authentication devices, each arranged to:

read an indicium presented by a user; indicate whether the indicium is verified.
16. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of beacons at known locations, wherein:

each beacon is arranged to periodically transmit a coded message; and each mobile communications device is arranged to determine its own location by receiving the coded message directly from at least one of the beacons and verifying the coded message with the monitoring system.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein each beacon is arranged to generate the coded message to include a hash of a security code, wherein the security code comprises:

a fixed key identifying that beacon; and a rolling code that varies periodically and/or sequentially.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the coded message and/or security code further comprises one or more of:

a label identifying the system; a label identifying location of that beacon; a current time; and/or a current date.
19. The system of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein each beacon transmits over a range of up to 250m.
20. The system of any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein each beacon comprises a reflector to provide a directional transmission pattern.
21. The system of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein each beacon transmits UHF waves of frequency in the range 2.4 to 2.485 GHz.
22. The system of any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein each beacon comprises a GPS device arranged to provide a signal representative of the current time.

- 1423. The system of any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein each beacon comprises an accelerometer arranged to deactivate the beacon in response to movement.
24. The system of any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein each beacon comprises a sensor arranged to sense the presence of a location verification component mounted nearby and to deactivate the beacon if the location verification component is not sensed.
25. The system of any one of claims 16 to 24, wherein each beacon comprises a reflector arranged to prevent the transmission of the coded message in at least one direction.
26. The system of any one of claims 16 to 25, further comprising a vehicle, the vehicle comprising at least one entry point and a plurality of seats for carrying passengers, wherein:

an entry beacon and a general beacon are provided;

the entry beacon is arranged to provide a directional transmission of the coded message, the directional transmission encompassing the at least one entry point; and the general beacon is arranged to provide a transmission of the coded message that encompasses at least the seats.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein each mobile communications device is arranged to determine its own location by receiving the coded message directly from the entry beacon and provide a starting location based on that location.
28. The system of claim 26 or claim 27, wherein each mobile communications device is arranged to:

receive an input indicating that the user is disembarking the vehicle;

confirm that the mobile communications device has not sensed a general beacon within a predetermined period of time; and wirelessly transmit a disembarkation confirmation to the monitoring system.
29. A method for charging a user for the use of a mode of transport, the method utilising a monitoring system and a mobile communications device, comprising the steps of:

identifying the location of the mobile communications device;

- 15- providing a starting location based on the identified location;

- receiving an input of a destination location;

- creating an electronic permit request that includes the start location, the destination location, and an identifier for identifying at least one of the mobile communications device or the user;

- wirelessly transmitting the electronic permit request from the mobile communications device to the monitoring system;

- storing data with the monitoring system, the data representing the start location, the destination location, and the identifier derived from the electronic permit request;

generating an indicium with the monitoring system; and sending the indicium from the monitoring system to the first mobile communications device;

- wirelessly receiving an indicium from the monitoring system with the mobile communications device;

outputting the indicium with the mobile communications device on request by a user;

reviewing the stored data for one or more periods of time with the monitoring system for each identifier;

- generating ticketing information by applying a ticketing algorithm to some or all of the stored data; and

- instructing one or more payment processing servers to effect a payment based on the ticketing information.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein each mobile communication device provides a starting location that is based on the identified location by providing a single starting location within a predetermined range of the identified location, or by:

listing a plurality of starting locations within the predetermined range of the identified location; and receiving an input of one of the plurality of starting locations.
31. The system of any one of claims 29 to 30, wherein the monitoring system is a computer system comprising:

a memory for storing data representing the start location, the destination location, and the identifier derived from the electronic permit request;

- 16a processor for generate an indicium; and a network connection for receiving electronic permit requests from mobile communications devices and for sending the indicium to the first mobile communications device.
32. The system of any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein:

the ticketing algorithm is applied for each identifier by generating a desired payment based on the electronic permit requests granted over a predetermined period of time; and the monitoring system instructs a payment processing server to effect the desired payment from an account associated with the identifier.
33. The system of any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the predetermined period of time is one week.
34. The system of any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the payment processing servers are remote from the monitoring system.
35. The system of any one of claims 29 to 34, wherein the payment processing servers are remote from the monitoring system.
36. The system of any one of claims 29 to 35, wherein the monitoring system is arranged to generate an indicium by encoding at least the start location and the destination location of an electronic permit request into a machine readable image or code.
37. The system of claim 36, wherein the monitoring system is also arranged to encode the time of generation of the indicium into the machine readable image or code.
38. The system of any one of claims 29 to 37, further comprising a number of movable barriers, each arranged to:

read an indicium presented by a user; open if the indicium is verified; and remain closed if the indicium is not verified.
39. The system of any one of claims 29 to 38, further comprising a number of portable authentication devices, each arranged to:

- 17read an indicium presented by a user; indicate whether the indicium is verified.
40. The system of any one of claims 29 to 39, further comprising a plurality of beacons at known locations, wherein:

each beacon is arranged to periodically transmit a coded message; and each mobile communications device is arranged to determine its own location by receiving the coded message directly from at least one of the beacons and verifying the coded message with the monitoring system.
41. The system of claim 40, wherein each beacon is arranged to generate the coded message to include a hash of a security code, wherein the security code comprises:

a fixed key identifying that beacon; and a rolling code that varies periodically and/or sequentially.
42. The system of claim 41, wherein the coded message and/or security code further comprises one or more of:

a label identifying the system; a label identifying location of that beacon; a current time; and/or a current date.
43. The system of any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein each beacon transmits over a range of up to 250m.
44. The system of any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein each beacon comprises a reflector to provide a directional transmission pattern.
45. The system of any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein each beacon transmits UHF waves of frequency in the range 2.4 to 2.485 GHz.

Bluetooth
46. The system of any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein each beacon comprises a GPS device arranged to provide a signal representative of the current time.

- 1847. The system of any one of claims 40 to 46, wherein each beacon comprises an accelerometer arranged to deactivate the beacon in response to movement.
48. The system of any one of claims 40 to 47, wherein each beacon comprises a sensor arranged to sense the presence of a location verification component mounted nearby and to deactivate the beacon if the location verification component is not sensed.
49. The system of any one of claims 40 to 48, wherein each beacon comprises a reflector arranged to prevent the transmission of the coded message in at least one direction.
50. The system of any one of claims 40 to 49, further comprising a vehicle, the vehicle comprising at least one entry point and a plurality of seats for carrying passengers, wherein:

an entry beacon and a general beacon are provided;

the entry beacon is arranged to provide a directional transmission of the coded message, the directional transmission encompassing the at least one entry point; and the general beacon is arranged to provide a transmission of the coded message that encompasses at least the seats.
51. The system of claim 50, wherein each mobile communications device is arranged to determine its own location by receiving the coded message directly from the entry beacon and provide a starting location based on that location.
52. The system of claim 50 or claim 51, wherein each mobile communications device is arranged to:

receive an input indicating that the user is disembarking the vehicle;

confirm that the mobile communications device has not sensed a general beacon within a predetermined period of time; and wirelessly transmit a disembarkation confirmation to the monitoring system.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1700253.6