JP2008158833A - Electronic ticketing system and electronic ticketing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an occupancy rate by reducing the number of undetermined seats managed at a boarding station when electronic tickets, such as reserved-seat tickets and limited-express tickets for a specific train, are issued by a ticket gate machine. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic ticketing system comprises: an inventory control section 11 for extracting unsold seat data between one station and a next stop from files 16, 17 and sending to a station server 2 of a station, based on train data N minutes before departure from the station of a train where ticketless boarding is available, the train and the station; a transceiving section 26 for receiving the train data and the seat data sent from a seat reservation server 1; and an inventory allocation section 21 for updating the train data and the seat data transmitted from the seat reservation server 1 into files 24, 25, extracting the unsold seat data of a subsequent station from the file 25 after departure of the train where ticketless boarding is available, and sending the extracted data to the station server 2 of the first subsequent station where the seat is unsold. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for selling electronic tickets such as trains.

  Currently, there is an IC card ticket used for a short-distance ordinary train as a method for getting on a train without issuing a ticket. It is possible to get on and off with only the IC card ticket by holding the IC card ticket over the ticket gate or touching it. The ticket gate calculates the fare for the section of use at the time of ticketing, and the IC card The prepaid method is used in which the fare is subtracted from the SF (Stored Fare) stored in the data part. In the present specification, “no ticketing” means that a ticket is issued to an IC card of a passenger at the ticket gate without purchasing a ticket before passing through the ticket gate as in the prior art. However, for example, in the case of medium- and long-distance trains (express, limited express, Shinkansen, etc.), a ticket that is added depending on the speed and facilities will be generated in addition to the ticket that calculates the fare from the operating kilometer range. The IC card ticket system used for short-distance trains is applicable because it is necessary to specify vehicles and seats in advance, and in the case of stock-type trains such as reserved seats, it is necessary to assign seats in advance. As before, it is still possible to purchase and issue a ticket by determining the train, section of use, seat type (free seat / designated seat), vehicle type (normal car / green car) and seat position before boarding. It has been.

However, in such a situation, even if the target train arrives at the departure station several tens of minutes before departure, it often takes time for various procedures due to congestion of the window or terminal, and it is often delayed. It is in the situation.
Therefore, as a method for boarding a medium- and long-distance train without ticketing, there is a seat reservation system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-281240 that combines an IC card and Internet reservation / settlement. This is because if a user preliminarily reserves a seat by inputting a use section, time zone, and date from a PC (Personal Computer), the reserved user ID and an indeterminate seat reserved for each train A list of frames is distributed to the station management device and the ticket checker, and at the timing when the user passes the ticket checker, the ticket checker determines whether the user ID of the IC card and the pre-distributed ID match, If they match, you can get on as it is. This makes it possible to get on the earliest train that is available in the temporarily reserved time zone without the hassle of issuing a ticket at the station on the day, even if a temporary reservation is made with a PC in advance.
JP 2003-281240 A

However, Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
First, the method of Patent Document 1 estimates an indeterminate seat frame for a provisional reservation user from the actual seat operation status and train operation status using a statistical method, and based on that, the predetermined seat frame is trained. Although there is an indeterminate seat frame securing means that dynamically secures every time, this estimation is difficult. In addition, if the number of indeterminate seats exceeds the number of temporary reservations who actually used the train, the number of seats that could have been released for general users will be reduced. This can lower the boarding efficiency and reduce the revenue of passenger companies.
Secondly, in the method of Patent Document 1, the seat sold in the uncertain seat frame distributed to the station is once returned to the seat reservation system center, and then the indefinite seat frame determination process is performed in the seat reservation system center. The indeterminate seat frame is distributed to the station management station of the stop station of the station, but since there are many processing steps across multiple systems, it is uncertain until the train stops at the next station when the stop station interval is short The case where seat frame delivery is not in time is also easily assumed.

  Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, the present invention is a case where it is necessary to determine seats and trains in advance before boarding, and it is difficult to manage at a boarding station when a ticket can be obtained with a ticket gate. The purpose is to increase the riding efficiency by reducing the number of reserved seat frames.

  In order to solve the above problems, the seat reservation system center and a station server arranged at each stop station that can communicate with the seat reservation system network via a network can be used. The storage device has a train file for each station that stores a list of trains and a reserved seat inventory file for each station that stores unsold information on reserved seats for each seat. And the seat reservation system center transmits train information that can be boarded without ticketing to the station server of the stop station, and based on the train and the stop station, unreleased seat information between the stop station and the next stop station Is transmitted to the station server of the stop station. The station server receives the train information and seat information that can be boarded without a ticket transmitted from the seat reservation system center, receives the seat information transmitted from the station server of the stop station before the station server, and is received. Train information is added to the train file for each station, the reserved seat inventory file for each station is updated using the received seat information, and unreleased seat information of the subsequent stop station is extracted from the reserved seat inventory file for each station, Each seat information is transmitted to the station server of the first subsequent stop station where the seat becomes unreleased.

  According to the present invention, surplus train tickets can be used efficiently. Specifically, the number of indeterminate seat frames managed at the boarding station can be reduced, and the boarding efficiency can be increased.

  Hereinafter, an electronic ticket issuing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Here, hereinafter, a type with a reserved seat is called an inventory type, and a type with only a free seat is called a non-stock type. For example, “inventory type ticket” means a reserved seat type ticket, “non-inventory type ticket” means a non-reserved seat type ticket, and “inventory type train” means a train with a reserved seat, “ "Non-stock train" means a train with all seats reserved. Further, “boarding without ticketing” means that a ticket is issued and an electronic ticket is issued at a ticket gate without issuing a ticket or a prior ticket on the Internet.

<Configuration of the embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic ticket issuing system in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic ticket issuing system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a seat reservation system center 1 and a station server 2 installed at each stop station that operates the electronic ticket issuing system 100. The station server 2 at each stop station is further connected to each device of the station management device 3. Although only one station server 2 is shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the station server 2 is installed at each stop station. Here, the connection between the seat reservation system center 1 and the station server 2 and the connection between the station server 2 and the station management device 3 are connected using, for example, a dedicated line.

The seat reservation system center 1 is a server that centrally manages seat reservation for trains. The train file 16 stores the train information (stop station, time) of the train that departs on the day, and the unsold information on inventory-type tickets such as reserved seats. From the reserved seat inventory file 17 for storing seats in units of seats, the fare fee file 18 for storing basic information for calculating fare fees, the member file 19 for storing personal information and basic train patterns of each member, and the station server 2 A member sales record file 20 for storing sales information as detailed information is stored in a storage device (not shown). In the seat reservation system center 1, processing programs of the inventory management unit 11, the fare calculation unit 12, the member management unit 13, the credit connection unit 14, and the mail transmission unit 15 are stored in a memory, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) ) (Not shown).
Here, the basic train pattern is `` station requirements (boarding station) '' `` seat requirements (non-reserved seats only, reserved seats only, non-reserved seat priority, reserved seat priority) '' `` vehicle requirements (only ordinary cars, preferential seats only, It is assumed to be a combination of the three requirements “ordinary car priority, preferential seat priority)”. The preferential seat means a seat that is more expensive than a normal car and has a good seat quality (for example, a green car).

  The inventory management unit 11 manages the train file 16 and the reserved seat inventory file 17 and updates / references the information. In addition, the inventory management unit 11 transmits, to the station server 2, train information that is a target before a predetermined time (N minutes) before departure in the train file 16. In the case of inventory-type tickets such as reserved seats, the unsold seats N minutes before the departure of the target train are extracted from the reserved seat inventory file 17 and transmitted to the station server 2 and at the same time specified for unsold seats. The status of the seat inventory file 17 is updated to “released”. The ratio of seats to be transmitted to the station server 2 among unsold seats can also be set. That is, all the unsold seats can be transmitted to the station server 2, or a certain percentage of unsold seats can be transmitted to the station server 2. About the timing which transmits the train information which became the predetermined time (N minutes) before departure to the station server 2, it can set freely in the form of N minutes before departure time.

  The fare fee calculation unit 12 manages the fare fee file 18 and receives the boarding train information (boarding station / alighting station, seat type (non-reserved seat / designated seat)), vehicle type (ordinary car / preferential seat) received from the member management unit 13 ) To calculate the fare / charge, and return the result to the member management unit 13.

  The member management unit 13 manages the member file 19 and the member release result file 20. In addition, the member management unit 13 stores basic train pattern information registered from the member terminal 6 or the portable member application 51, which will be described later when the user registers or changes the member information, in the fare file 18. Further, the sales history (member number, sales information) received from the station server 2 is received and stored in the member sales result file 20 as detailed information about one sales of the user. Then, as a result of extracting the boarding train information (train name, seat) necessary for calculating the fare from the member release result file 20 and sending it to the fare charge calculation unit 12, the member release result file 20 based on the returned fare charge information. , And the user's e-mail address and the details of the released train (train name, seat, fare) are sent to the e-mail transmission unit 15, and the user's credit number is searched from the member file 19 using the received member number as a key. And it transmits to the credit connection part 14 with the fare of the train which the said user utilized.

  The credit connection unit 14 is connected to the settlement agent company 8 and transmits the user's credit number and fare fee received from the member management unit 13 to the settlement agent company 8. Here, for the connection between the credit connection unit 14 and the settlement agent company 8, for example, the Internet can be used.

  The mail transmission unit 15 assembles the member's mail address and the contents of the released train (train name, seat, fare) received from the member management unit 13 into a data format for mail transmission, and then uses the SMTP command to send the SMTP server. Send.

The station server 2 is a server installed at each stop station. Each station's train file 24 that stores a list of trains that can be boarded without ticketing N minutes before departure from each station and trains that can be boarded without ticketing are designated seats, etc. In the case of a stock-type train, a reserved seat inventory file 25 for each station that stores unsold information on reserved seats for each seat is stored in a storage device (not shown). Hereinafter, for example, the train file 24 for each station and the reserved seat inventory file 25 for each station in the station server 2 of the A station which is a certain stop station are defined as the train file for A station and the reserved seat inventory file for A station, respectively. To do. In the station server 2, an inventory allocation unit 21, a transmission / reception unit 26, and a screen editing unit 23 are stored on a memory and realized by a CPU (not shown).
The station server 2 is connected to the station management device 3, and the station management device 3 includes a display monitor 31 and a ticket gate 32.

The transmission / reception unit 26 receives the train information N minutes before the departure from the station from the inventory management unit 11 of the seat reservation system center 1 and stores it in the train file 24 for the A station. Further, in the case of an inventory-type train, the transmission / reception unit 26 receives the unreleased seat information that is N minutes before the departure from the station from the inventory management unit 11 of the seat reservation system center 1 and stores it in the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the A station. Remember. Further, in the case of an inventory-type train, after the train departs from the immediately preceding stop station, unsold seat information is received from the transmitting / receiving unit 26 in the station server 2 of that station, and stored in the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the A station. .
Further, when the train departs from the A station, the transmission / reception unit 26 extracts unsold seats from the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the A station under predetermined conditions, and transmits to the transmission / reception unit 26 of the B station server of the B station that is the next stop station. Send.

  The screen editing unit 23 checks the A station train file 24 at regular intervals and causes the display monitor 31 to display the train information stored in the A station train file 24 for non-stock tickets such as free seat tickets. Therefore, the data is transmitted to the station management device 3. On the other hand, the inventory type ticket such as the designated seat ticket is further checked in the designated seat inventory file 25 for the A station and transmitted to the station management device 3 for display on the display monitor 31 when there is an unreleased seat.

The stock allocation unit 21 determines whether or not the member user can get on the basis of information received from the ticket gate 32 of the station management device 3.
When the member user's basic train pattern received from the ticket gate 32 is a non-inventory ticket, the inventory allocation unit 21 searches the train file 24 for the A station based on the member user's basic train pattern, and the corresponding train. If there is, the response to the boarding OK is transmitted to the ticket checker 32, and at the same time, the sales history (release information, member number) is transmitted to the member management unit 13 of the seat reservation system center 1. If the search result indicates that there is no corresponding train, an answer of boarding NG is transmitted to the ticket gate 32.
When the basic train pattern of the member user received from the ticket gate 32 is an inventory type ticket, first, based on the basic train pattern of the member user, the A station train file 24 is searched to determine whether there is a corresponding train. After the determination, the designated seat inventory file 25 for A station is further searched, and if there is an unreleased seat, an answer to the boarding OK is transmitted to the ticket gate 32, and at the same time, the status of the seat is updated to released, and the seat reservation system The sales history (release information, member number) is transmitted to the member management unit 13 of the center 1. If there is no train corresponding to the basic train pattern, or there is no unreleased seat, an answer of boarding NG is transmitted to the ticket gate 32.
In addition, the inventory allocation unit 21 checks the A station train file 24 in a predetermined time cycle, and if there is a train whose departure time has passed, deletes the record of the train from the A station train file 24. At the same time, a record having unsold seats in the following station section is extracted from the reserved seat inventory file 25 for station A, and the seat record is transmitted to the station server 2 where the unsold state starts for the extracted records.

When the member user passes the ticket gate 32, the IC card 4 or the mobile phone 5 is used.
The IC card 4 includes a display device 41 and a storage area 42. The storage area 42 has an area for storing a member number, a basic train pattern, and release seat information (train name, seat number). The IC card 4 stores a member number and a basic train pattern input from the member terminal 6 to be described later in the storage area 42, receives sales seat information from the ticket gate 32, and stores it in the storage area 42.

  The cellular phone 5 includes a portable member application 51 and a storage area 52. The storage area 52 has an area for storing a member number, a basic train pattern, and release seat information (train name, seat number). The cellular phone 5 stores the membership number and the basic train pattern input from the portable member application 51 in the storage area 52, receives the sale seat information from the ticket gate 32, stores it in the storage area 52, and the sale seat information. Is transferred to the portable member application 51 and displayed on the monitor of the mobile phone.

  The display monitor 31 of the station management device 3 receives and displays the train name and departure information (for example, departure time, stop station) that can be boarded without a ticket at the present time from the screen editing unit 23 of the station server 2.

The ticket gate 32 of the station management device 3 reads the basic train pattern stored in the storage area 42 of the IC card 4 when the user touches the reading section of the storage area of the IC card 4 when passing through the ticket gate, and the station server 2 to the inventory allocation unit 21.
When the ticket checker 32 receives a reply of boarding OK from the inventory allocation unit 21 of the station server 2, the ticket gate 32 opens the latch and transmits the sale seat information (train name, seat number) to the IC card 4. On the other hand, when an answer to the boarding NG is received from the station server 2, the passage impossible message is displayed on the screen attached to the ticket gate 32 without opening the latch.
Since the same applies to the mobile phone 5, the description thereof is omitted.

  The member terminal 6 is a dedicated device for the IC card 4 on which a member application (not shown) is mounted. In the member terminal 6, the member's personal information is changed or the basic train pattern is registered / changed by the member's input, and the registered / changed basic train pattern is stored in the storage area 42 of the IC card 4. The member terminal 6 includes an input user interface (not shown), a reading device for the IC card 4, and a screen. When the IC card 4 is inserted into the reading device of the IC card 4 of the member terminal 6, the member application is activated.

  The display device 7 has a screen and a reading device for the IC card 4, reads the released seat information in the storage area 42 of the IC card 4 approaching the reading device, and displays the read released seat information on the screen.

<Operation of the embodiment>
Here, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, it is assumed that the user of the present embodiment is registered as a member of the electronic ticketing system 100, and the registered member uses the dedicated IC card 4 or the mobile phone 5 downloaded with the portable member application 51. To do.
When a user registers as a member, basic personal information including the member's name, address / phone number, and credit number to be settled is registered. The member who uses the dedicated IC card 4 sets the basic train pattern by using the initial setting at the time of registration or the member himself / herself using the member terminal 6. A member who uses the mobile phone 5 activates the mobile member application 51 and sets a basic train pattern.
The information set in the basic train pattern is `` Station requirements (boarding station) information '', `` Seat requirements (only seats, reserved seats only, free seat priority, reserved seat priority) information '', `` Vehicle requirements (ordinary vehicles only, preferential treatment) The three requirements are “seat only, normal car priority, preferential seat priority) information”.

  A display monitor 31 is installed on the ticket gate 32 in the station. The display monitor 31 displays a train that can be boarded only after passing through the ticket gate 32 without issuing a ticket or a limited express ticket (hereinafter, a train that can be boarded without a ticket). When the user currently has a train that is displayed on the display monitor 31 and has a train that matches the station requirements, seat requirements, and vehicle requirements set in the basic train pattern, the dedicated IC card 4 or the mobile phone 5 is used. It is possible to get on the train just by passing through the ticket gate 32. The assigned train data (train name, departure time) and assigned seat data (including seat position in the case of a designated seat) are displayed on the display device 41 on the dedicated IC card 4, the monitor of the mobile phone 5, or the dedicated IC card. 4 can be displayed by the display device 7 that can display the image by simply holding it over.

In addition, the fare for the train used by the user is withdrawn via a credit number designated in advance at the time of member registration.
As a result, the user can jump immediately on the train he / she wants to ride on the Shinkansen, limited express train, etc. without issuing a ticket at the station. In particular, it is useful for users who have fixed boarding stations to some extent during commuting or regular business trips to the same place.
The payment of the fare fee may be a prepaid method in which the fare fee is deducted from the amount previously deposited in the portable member application 51 or the IC card 4 at the time of entrance to the ticket gate, instead of the postpay method of debiting the credit account.

The seat reservation system center 1 extracts the trains that can be boarded and unsold seats from the train file 16 that can be boarded without a ticket and the reserved seat inventory file 17, and transmits the trains to the station server 2 at the stop station of the train N minutes before departure. To do. Instead of extracting and sending all the remaining seats in the designated seat inventory file 17 to the station server 2, the seats that remain unsold in the station section including the destination station server 2 are extracted. In other words, the unsold seats extracted from the reserved seat inventory file 17 for transmission to the A station server 2 are seats that have not been released in the A to B station section and have been released for the A to B station section, but the B to C station section. The seats that have not been released are not subject to extraction.
Thereby, the performance improvement about the determination of the presence or absence of a boardable train and an unsold seat can be aimed at.

  The A station server 2 transmits the unsold seat inventory to the station server 2 at the station where the unsold state starts for each seat after the train departs from the A station. For example, a seat that has not been sold in the B to C station section is transmitted to the station server 2 of the B station, and a seat that has not been released in the C to D station section is transmitted to the station server 2 of the C station.

  In this way, in parallel with the method of transmitting the unsold seats from the seat reservation system center 1 to each station server 2, to the station server 2 of the subsequent stop station that can sell unsold seats that have not been sold in the station server 2 thereafter. By moving sequentially, wasteful data processing is reduced as much as possible, enabling efficient sales.

  FIG. 2 is a file configuration diagram showing an example of a train file stored in the storage device of the seat reservation system center. The train file 16 stores the train information (stop station, time) of the train that departs on the day, train # 210 indicating the train number, train name 220, stop station 230 that combines the stop time and stop station, and the total number of cars. 240 and a car / type 250 that holds a seat (free seat or reserved seat) / vehicle (normal car or green car) for each car. Note that the train file 16 is managed by the file for the train management period. For example, in FIG. 2, train information of 2006/08/08 and 2006/08/09 is stored.

FIG. 3 is a file configuration diagram showing an example of a train file for each station stored in the storage device of each station server. For example, when each station train file 24 is stored in the storage device of the A station server 2, a record of the train file 16 in the seat reservation system center 1 is transmitted to the A station server 2 N minutes before departure from the A station. A station server 2 memorizes what was done.
Since the format is the same as that of the train file 16 of the seat reservation system center 1, description thereof is omitted. Each station train file 24 is managed by the file for the train management period.

FIG. 4 is a file configuration diagram showing an example of the reserved seat inventory file stored in the storage device of the seat reservation system center. The reserved seat inventory file 17 is used in the case of an inventory-type ticket such as a reserved seat, and stores the seat # 410 indicating the seat number for each train number and the unsold information 420 for each station section in the seat unit.
In the sales unsold information, “0” indicates an unreleased state, and “1” indicates a released state. The same applies to FIGS. 5, 9 and 10 described later.

FIG. 5 is a file configuration diagram showing an example of the reserved seat inventory file for each station stored in the storage device of each station server. The reserved seat inventory file 25 for each station extracts a record including unsold seats between the stop station and the next stop station N minutes before the stop station departure from the record of the reserved seat stock file 17 in the seat reservation system center 1. And what was transmitted to the station server 2 which departs after N minutes is memorize | stored. For example, FIG. 5 shows a reserved seat inventory file for station A.
The format is the same as that of the reserved seat inventory file 17 of the seat reservation system center 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

<Operation of the embodiment>
The overall operation outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processing when using the ticket-free boarding of the electronic ticket issuing system in the present embodiment.
First, the user who has registered as a member uses the dedicated IC card 4 or the cellular phone 5 on which the portable member application 51 has been downloaded.
A member who uses the dedicated IC card 4 is initialized at the time of registration or when the member himself inputs a basic train pattern using the member terminal 6, the member terminal 6 is stored in the storage area 42 of the IC card 4. The input basic train pattern information is stored (step S101).
When a member who uses the mobile phone 5 starts the mobile member application 51 and inputs a basic train pattern, the mobile member application 51 stores the basic train pattern information input in the storage area 52 of the mobile phone 5 (step) S101).
Note that, as described above, the basic train pattern has three requirements: station requirement information, seat requirement information, and vehicle requirement information.

  By registering the basic train pattern in advance instead of provisional reservation that specifies the date and time of boarding, users can flexibly respond to schedules that cannot be used outside of the date and time of provisional reservation. It is solved from the problem of difficulty.

  Next, when the user brings the IC card 4 or the mobile phone 5 into contact with the reading unit of the ticket gate 32 in order to get on the train displayed on the display monitor 31 installed on the ticket gate 32 at the station A, The ticket gate 32 reads the member ID and basic train pattern uniquely determined for each user from the storage area 42 of the IC card 4 or the mobile phone 5 (in the case of the mobile phone 5, the storage area 52). 2 to the inventory allocation unit 21 (step S102).

  The stock allocation unit 21 receives the member ID and the basic train pattern (step S103).

The stock allocation unit 21 determines whether or not a train that matches the received basic train pattern exists in the train file 24 for the A station (see FIG. 3) (step 104). That is, it is determined whether there is a matching train by comparing the boarding station and the getting-off station of the station requirements (boarding station) of the basic train pattern with the stop station 330 of the train file 24 for the A station.
If the seat requirement of the basic train pattern is an inventory type ticket such as a reserved seat, it is determined whether or not there is an unreleased seat in the A-station reserved seat inventory file 25 (see FIG. 5) (step S104). That is, whether or not the seats from the boarding station to the disembarking station in the station requirements of the basic train pattern in the record for the train number in the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the A station are not released (status = 0). judge.
If there is no corresponding assigned train (no assigned train in S104), a NO response is transmitted to the ticket gate 32.
If there is a corresponding assigned train (there is an assigned train in S104), the YES reply including the assigned train data and the assigned seat data is edited and transmitted to the ticket gate 32 (step S105).
Here, assigned train data refers to ticket number, train number, train name, departure station, departure station, departure time and departure time, and assigned seat data refers to ticket number, seat number, car number, seat requirements (free A type including a seat or a designated seat) and a vehicle requirement (ordinary car or preferential seat).

  Further, the stock allocation unit 21 edits the release journal including the allocated train data, the allocated seat data, and the member ID, and transmits it to the seat reservation system center 1 (step S106).

Next, the ticket gate 32 determines whether to open or close the ticket gate latch based on the YES answer or the NO answer from the inventory allocation unit 21 (step S107).
If the answer is YES (YES in step S107), the assigned train data and assigned seat data are transmitted to the IC card 4 or the mobile phone 5, and the ticket gate latch is opened.
If the answer is NO (NO answer in step S107), the ticket gate latch is closed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the processing after using the ticketless boarding of the electronic ticket issuing system in the present embodiment.
When the inventory allocation unit 21 allocates a seat, the station server 2 transmits a release journal including allocated train data, allocated seat data, and a member ID to the member management unit 13 of the seat reservation system center 1 (see step S106 in FIG. 6). ).

  After storing the sales journal in the member sales record file 20 (step S201), the member management unit 13 transmits the released allocated train data and allocated seat data to the fare calculation unit 12 (step S202).

The fare fee calculation unit 12 calculates a fare fee based on the received allocated train data and allocated seat data (step S203). For example, the fare charge file 18 is composed of a seat requirement for distinguishing between a non-reserved seat and a reserved seat, a vehicle requirement for distinguishing between an ordinary car and a preferential seat, a boarding distance and a fare charge. The boarding distance may be calculated from the departure station and the departure station of the received assigned train data, and the fare fee data may be extracted from the fare fee file 18 based on the seat requirement and the vehicle requirement of the received assigned seat data.
The fare fee calculation unit 12 edits the response message of the calculated fare fee data and transmits it to the member management unit 13 (step S204). The member management unit 13 that has received the reply stores the fare fee data related to the reply in the member release result file 20 (step S205).

  The member management unit 13 transmits credit settlement data including the member credit number and fare fee data to the credit connection unit 14 (step S206). Here, the member credit number is acquired from the member file 19 based on the member ID.

  The credit connection unit 14 edits the received credit settlement data and transmits it to the credit settlement agency (step S207).

  The member management unit 13 transmits email transmission data including the member email address, assigned train data, assigned seat data, and fare fee data to the email sending unit 15 (step S208). Here, the member email address is acquired from the member file 19 based on the member ID. The mail transmitting unit 15 that has received the mail transmission data edits the mail transmission message and transmits the mail to the member user (step S209).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a train inventory process of the electronic ticket issuing system in the present embodiment. 2, 4, 5, 9, and 10, along with FIG. 8, regarding the train inventory processing of the present embodiment, the seat inventory that has not been released from the seat reservation system center 1 along with the time axis is shown. A flow of moving to the station server 2 and from the station server 2 to the subsequent station server 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, for example, the stop station of the stock-type train is assumed to be 7 stations A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, where the first station is A station.

Normally, all seat information is managed in the reserved seat inventory file 17 (see FIG. 4) of the seat reservation system center 1. However, the present embodiment realizes the ticket-free boarding and improves the judgment performance of the presence / absence of the seat of the train to be boarded so that the judgment of opening / closing of the ticket gate latch can be made quickly, and the seat reservation system center 1 N minutes before the departure from each station. Distribute some stock to stations. Here, if all the inventory of the seat reservation system center 1 is distributed to the stations, it is not possible to purchase an inventory-type ticket from an existing terminal or an existing channel connected to this system.
Therefore, the inventory management unit 11 of the seat reservation system center 1 extracts a record corresponding to a train N minutes before the departure of the first A station from the train file 16 (see FIG. 2), and the A to B stations with respect to the seat based on the train. The seat stock whose section is not released (status = 0) is extracted from the designated seat stock file 17 and transmitted to the A station server 2a (step S301).

  Of the records in the reserved seat inventory file 17 of the seat reservation system center 1, records that have already been released in the sections A to B are not extracted but are left in the seat reservation system center 1 so that useless data processing can be omitted and extracted. Time can be shortened. In addition, by limiting to N minutes before departure from station A, the seat reservation system center 1 may continue to release in response to requests from existing terminals and existing channels until N minutes before departure from station A. it can.

The inventory management unit 11 of the seat reservation system center 1 releases the reserved seat inventory file 17 (see FIG. 4) for the seats in which the sections A to B transmitted to the A station server 2a are not released (status = Update to 1) (step S302).
For example, the reserved seat inventory file 17 of the seat reservation system center 1 at the point N minutes before departure from the station A transitions from FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 after execution of step S302. As of N minutes before departure from station A, seats “1B”, “1D”, “1E”, and “2C” are not yet released in the sections A to B of the reserved seat inventory file 17 in FIG. 4 (status = 0). However, in step S301, the records of the seats “1B”, “1D”, “1E”, and “2C” are extracted and transmitted to the A station server 2a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, all the station sections of the seat transmitted to the A station server 2a are changed to the released state.

  The inventory allocation unit 21 adds the train record received by the transmission / reception unit 26 of the A station server 2a to the A station train file 24 (see FIG. 3), and uses the received seat inventory to designate the reserved seat inventory file for A station. 25 (see FIG. 5) is updated (step S303). The reserved seat inventory file 25 for A station of the A station server 2a N minutes before departure from the A station after addition and update is as shown in FIG.

  When the train departs from the A station, the inventory allocation unit 21 of the A station server 2a deletes the record of the train that has already departed from the train file 24 for the A station (step S304), and the rear section from the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the A station. A record having a seat that has not yet been released (status = 0) is extracted (step S305). For example, in the reserved seat inventory file 25 for station A in FIG. 10, records “1B”, “1D”, and “1E” that have at least one unsold state (status = 0) in the station section from station B to station G. Records are extracted.

  The stock allocation unit 21 sorts the extracted seat records in the section where the unsold state starts (step S306). For example, in the reserved seat inventory file 25 for station A in FIG. 10, the sections where seats “1B” and “1D” begin to be unsold are E to F stations, and seats “1E” begin to be unsold. It is D station section.

  The inventory allocation unit 21 of the A station server 2a transmits unsold seats to the station server corresponding to the sorted sections (step S307). The seat where the unreleased state starts in the B to C station section is transmitted to the B station server. The seat where the unreleased state starts in the C to D station section is transmitted to the C station server. The seats that are not released in the D-E station section are transmitted to the D station server. For example, in the reserved seat inventory file 25 for A station in FIG. 10, the seat records “1B” and “1D” are transmitted to the E station server 2e, and the seat record “1E” is transmitted to the C station server 2c.

  The processing (step S304 to step S307) of the A station server 2a after the departure from the A station is defined as a processing sequence 1.

  The B station server 2b, to which the unsold seats have been transmitted from the A station server 2a that has left the vehicle, updates the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the B station (step S308). The C station server 2c, to which the unsold seats are transmitted from the A station server 2a that has left the vehicle, updates the reserved seat inventory file 25 for the C station (step S309). The D station server 2d, to which the unsold seats are transmitted from the A station server 2a that has left the vehicle, updates the reserved seat inventory file 25 for D station (step S310).

Next, when the train approaches B station and N minutes before departure from B station, the inventory management unit 11 of the seat reservation system center 1 extracts records corresponding to the train N minutes before departure from B station from the train file 16. For the seats based on the train, the seat inventory in which the B to C station sections are not released (status = 0) is extracted from the designated seat inventory file 17 and transmitted to the B station server 2b (step S311).
Of the records in the reserved seat inventory file 17 of the seat reservation system center 1, records that have already been released in the B to C station section are not extracted, but are left in the seat reservation system center 1, so that unnecessary data processing can be omitted and extracted. Time can be shortened. In addition, by limiting to N minutes before departure from the B station, the seat reservation system center 1 may continue to release in response to requests from existing terminals and existing channels until N minutes before departure from the B station. it can.

  The inventory management unit 11 of the seat reservation system center 1 releases the seats in the B to C station section that have been transmitted to the B station server 2b to the reserved seat inventory file 17 of the seat reservation system center 1 (status) = 1) (step S312).

  The B station server 2b adds the received train record to the B station train file 24 (see FIG. 3), and updates the B station reserved seat inventory file 25 (see FIG. 5) using the received seat inventory (see FIG. 5). Step S313).

  When the train departs from the B station, the B station server 2b performs the processing sequence 1 in the same manner as described above, and transmits the unreleased seats to each subsequent station server, that is, the station server of the first subsequent stop station where the seats are not released. To do. The operation of step S309 is repeated at station C, which is a subsequent station that has received an unreleased seat, and step S310 is repeated at station D.

At subsequent stops, the boarding efficiency can be improved by moving the unsold seat inventory according to the timing of the arrival time and departure time of the train, and moving it to the station server 2 that requires unsold seats.
In addition, after the unsold seats sold at a certain stop station are once returned to the seat reservation system center 1, the unsold seats are not distributed to the station server 2. There is no shortage of delivery before stopping at the station.

  FIG. 9 is a file configuration diagram showing an example of the reserved seat inventory file stored in the storage device of the seat reservation system center after the unsold seats are transmitted to the A station server N minutes before departure from the A station. The file format of the reserved seat inventory file 17 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a file configuration diagram showing an example of the reserved seat inventory file for A station stored in the storage device of the A station server after departure from A station. The file format of the reserved seat inventory file 25 for station A is the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an example of data stored in the storage area in the IC card in the initial state and the storage area in the mobile phone. The data stored in the storage areas 42 and 52 (see FIG. 1) is composed of a member number 1101 unique to the user, a boarding station 1102, a getting-off station 1103, a seat requirement 1104, and a train requirement 1105. Train patterns are stored.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of data stored in the storage area in the IC card and the storage area in the mobile phone after use without ticketing. Data stored in the storage areas 42 and 52 (see FIG. 1) includes a user's basic train pattern 1201 including a member number, a boarding station, a getting-off station, a seat requirement, and a train requirement, and ticket information 1202 (ride date, Train name, departure time, stop time, car number, seat, type and ticket number storing train requirements and seat requirements). The IC card 4 receives the ticket information 1202 when it passes through the ticket gate 32 and stores it in the storage area 42. In addition, the mobile phone 5 receives the ticket information 1202 when it passes through the ticket gate 32 and stores it in the storage area 52.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a basic train pattern setting screen controlled by the portable member application in the mobile phone. The basic train pattern setting screen is used when a basic train pattern (boarding station, getting off station, seat type, vehicle type) is registered with the mobile phone 5 (see FIG. 1). When the user sets a basic train pattern using the basic train pattern setting screen from the mobile phone 5, the set basic train pattern is stored in the storage area 52 of the mobile phone 5.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a ticket information display screen of a portable member application in a mobile phone after use without ticketing. The ticket information display screen is digital ticket information when it is possible to board without ticketing based on the basic train pattern stored in the storage area 52 when passing through the ticket gate 32 using the mobile phone 5 (see FIG. 1). Is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 5.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a ticket information display screen of an IC card after use without ticketing. The ticket information display screen is digital ticket information when a ticketless boarding is possible based on the basic train pattern stored in the storage area 42 when passing through the ticket gate 32 using the IC card 4 (see FIG. 1). Is displayed on the display device 41 of the IC card 4.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic ticket issuing system in this Embodiment. It is a file block diagram which shows an example of the train file memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of a seat reservation system center. It is a file block diagram which shows an example of the train file for each station memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of each station server. It is a file block diagram which shows an example of the reserved seat stock file memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of a seat reservation system center. It is a file block diagram which shows an example of the reserved seat inventory file for each station memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of each station server. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of boarding use without a ticket issue of the electronic ticket issuing system in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process after boarding use without a ticket issue of the electronic ticket issuing system in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the train inventory process of the electronic ticket issuing system in this Embodiment. It is a file block diagram which shows an example of the reserved seat stock file memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of the seat reservation system center after transmitting an unsold seat to A station N minutes before A station departure. It is a file block diagram which shows an example of the reserved seat inventory file for each station memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of each station server after A station departure. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the storage area in the IC card of an initial state, and the storage area in a mobile telephone. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the memory | storage device in the IC card after use without ticket issuing, and the memory | storage device in a mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic train pattern setting screen of a portable member application. It is a figure which shows an example of the ticket information display screen of the portable member application after use without ticket issuing. It is a figure which shows an example of the ticket information display screen of IC card after use without ticket issuing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat reservation system center 2 Station server 11 Inventory management part 16 Train file 17 Reserved seat inventory file 21 Inventory allocation part 24 Train file for A station 25 Reserved seat inventory file for A station 26 Transmission / reception part 100 Electronic ticket issuing system

Claims (5)

An electronic ticket issuing system comprising: a seat reservation server; and a station server disposed at each stop station that can communicate with the seat reservation server via a network,
The seat reservation server
A storage device comprising a train file that stores train information of a train that can be boarded without ticketing that is issued on the day, and a reserved seat inventory file that stores unsold information on reserved seats in units of seats,
Train records of trains that can be ridden without ticketing are extracted from the train file, transmitted to the station server of the stop station, and unreleased seats between the stop station and the next stop station based on the train and the stop station An inventory management unit that extracts records from the reserved seat inventory file and transmits the records to the station server of the stop station,
The station server is
A storage device comprising a station train file that stores a list of trains that can be boarded without ticketing, and a station reserved seat inventory file that stores unsold information on reserved seats for each seat,
A transmission / reception unit for receiving a train record and a seat record transmitted from the seat reservation server, and a seat record transmitted from a station server of a stop station before the station server;
The train record received by the transceiver unit is added to the station train file, the station reserved seat inventory file is updated using the seat record received by the transceiver unit, and after a train that can be boarded without ticketing has started, Delete the train record that has already been released from the station train file, extract the unreleased seat record of the subsequent stop station from the station designated seat inventory file, and the first subsequent stop station where the seat is unreleased for each extracted seat record An electronic ticket issuing system, comprising: an inventory allocation unit that transmits the information to a station server. The electronic ticket issuing system according to claim 1,
Having a ticket gate capable of communicating with the station server,
When a user passes the ticket gate using a medium having a storage area for storing a member identifier and a basic train pattern that is a non-ticketing boarding requirement,
The inventory allocation unit
Based on the member identifier stored in the storage area of the medium received from the ticket gate and the basic train pattern, it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding train from the station train file and the station reserved seat inventory file. When there is a train, an electronic ticket issuing system characterized by transmitting an answer indicating that there is a corresponding train including the corresponding train and seat information to the ticket gate. The electronic ticket issuing system according to claim 2,
An electronic ticket issuing system comprising a member terminal for registering or changing a basic train pattern stored in a storage area of the medium. An electronic ticket issuing system according to claim 2 or claim 3,
An electronic ticket issuing system comprising a display device for displaying a storage area of the medium. A seat reservation server having a storage area for storing a train file that stores train information of a train that can be boarded without ticketing, and a reserved seat inventory file that stores unsold information on reserved seats for each seat;
A station train file that stores a list of trains that can be boarded without ticketing, and a station reserved seat inventory file that stores unsold information on reserved seats for each seat, and has a storage area for storing the network to the seat reservation server An electronic ticket issuing method in an electronic ticket issuing system comprising: a station server arranged at each stop station that can communicate with
The seat reservation server
Train records of trains that can be boarded without ticketing are extracted from the train file, transmitted to the station server of the stop station, and based on the train and the stop station, unreleased between the stop station and the next stop station The seat record is extracted from the reserved seat inventory file and transmitted to the station server of the stop station,
The station server is
Receiving a seat record transmitted from the station server of the stop station before the station server,
Receiving train records and seat records transmitted from the seat reservation server,
The received train record is added to a station train file, the station reserved seat inventory file is updated using the received seat record, and a train that can be boarded without a ticket is issued, and then the train starts from the station train file. Train records are deleted, unreleased seat records of subsequent stops are extracted from the station reserved seat inventory file, and each extracted seat record is sent to the station server of the first subsequent stop station where seats are not released. An electronic ticket issuing method characterized by the above.

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