JP2009118109A - In-train service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To build a system inside a train which calls out for crews by utilizing an existing system. <P>SOLUTION: Music data from a server 10 is transmitted to a terminal device 12 of a seat by a digital line 50 in a "green car" (first-class car) 200. In a non-green car 100, music data is FM-modulated and broadcasted by an FM transmitter 14. A crew call button is provided on the terminal device 12. Crew call data is transmitted to the server 10 via the digital line 50. The server 10 supplies the crew call data to the FM transmitter 14. The FM transmitter frequency-modulates and broadcasts the call data. The data is received by a terminal device 16 carried by a crew. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-train service system, and more particularly to a service for calling a crew member from a passenger in a train.

  Conventionally, a system for calling a crew member on a train, a passenger plane, or the like is known. For example, in Patent Document 1 shown below, a dedicated service terminal is installed in each seat, a crew member carries a crew handy terminal, and communication is performed between the dedicated service terminal and the crew handy terminal via a wireless line. Thus, a system that enables display of a product menu, order reception, and ticket inspection is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, when a desired order is selected while looking at a display installed in a seat, order information and a seat number are displayed on a display installed in a place where a service crew is stationed via a communication line. Is disclosed. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a system for ordering products using a mobile phone owned by a passenger.

JP-A-9-269964 JP 2001-357102 A JP 2002-215914 A

  However, all of the above prior arts require the installation of a new dedicated service terminal or transmission path, and there is a problem of increasing costs.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which a passenger can easily call a crew member at an arbitrary timing while effectively utilizing existing facilities.

  The present invention is provided in a server including a music player, broadcasting means for FM-modulating a music signal from the server, transmission means for transmitting the music signal from the server as a digital signal, and a passenger seat And a seat terminal that reproduces and outputs the transmitted digital signal, and transmits request data from the passenger to the crew member to the server via the transmission means to the seat terminal. Transmission means is provided, wherein the server transmits the request data to the broadcasting means, and the broadcasting means broadcasts the request data from the server after FM modulation.

  In the present invention, the request data may include data specifying the seat.

  In the present invention, the seat terminal has a plurality of preset reception channels, and the transmission means uses the remaining channels other than the channel for receiving a music signal among the plurality of reception channels. It is preferred to send data to the server.

  In the present invention, when there are a plurality of types of crew members, the transmission unit transmits the request data to the server using different channels in the remaining channels for each type of crew members, and the broadcasting unit , You may broadcast on a different frequency for every kind of crew member.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the crew member receives the request data broadcast from the broadcasting means by a portable receiving means whose reception frequency can be changed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a passenger can call a crew member easily at arbitrary timing, utilizing the existing installation effectively.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking the Shinkansen as an example.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram in the Shinkansen. A server 10 including a music player is provided in a predetermined vehicle, specifically, a green car 200. The server 10 supplies the music data from the music player as a digital signal to the terminal device (seat terminal or audio terminal) 12 provided in the seat of the green car 200 via the digital line 50. The music data is supplied to the terminal device 12 through a plurality of channels, and currently, the first to fifth channels among the eight channels are assigned as audio channels. The passenger can enjoy desired music by connecting the earphone to the output terminal of the terminal device 12 and selecting any one of the first channel to the fifth channel.

  On the other hand, the ordinary vehicle 100 other than the green vehicle has the FM transmitter 14. The FM transmitter 14 FM modulates the music data from the music player of the server 10 and broadcasts it in the vehicle. Passengers can enjoy FM radio by receiving FM broadcasts on a mobile phone or the like that can receive FM radio.

  As described above, the current system has two routes, that is, a route for transmitting music data from the server 10 through the digital line 50 and a route for broadcasting after FM modulation, and is provided in the terminal device 12. Of the eight channels, only the first to fifth channels are assigned to the audio channels, and the remaining three channels are not used. In this embodiment, paying attention to these points, a system capable of calling a crew member from a passenger in the green car 200 using the existing server 10, digital line 50, terminal device 12, and FM transmitter 14 is constructed. .

  That is, the digital line 50 is a two-way communication line, and not only music data is transmitted from the server 10 to the terminal device 12 but also passenger request data is transmitted from the terminal device 12 to the server 10. The terminal device 12 is provided with a button for calling a crew member, and the request data is transmitted to the server 10 as a digital signal by the button operation of the crew member. The request data may use any one of the three unused channels. It is desirable to add a number identifying the seat where the button is operated to the request data. This is to identify the seat of the passenger who performed the calling operation. It is also possible to assign the unused three channels to the crew to be called. For example, if the unused three channels are the sixth to eighth channels, the sixth channel is assigned to the conductor, the seventh channel is assigned to the attendant, the eighth channel is assigned to the salesperson call such as the wagon service, and so on. For example, when calling a salesperson, a passenger operates the terminal device 12 to select the eighth channel, and operates a crew member call button.

  Request data (including a seat number) from the terminal device 12 is supplied to the server 10 via the digital line 50. The server 10 supplies request data to the FM transmitter 14. The FM transmitter 14 FM-modulates the request data at a frequency different from the frequency of the music data and broadcasts the request data. The request data broadcasted by FM is received by a terminal device (FM receiver) 16 carried by the crew. The terminal device 16 outputs the received request data by voice, vibration, or display on a display. Since the request data includes a seat number, it is desirable to display the seat number when it is displayed on the display. When a frequency that can be received is assigned to each crew member and the request data is modulated and broadcast at a different frequency for each crew member, only the crew member that has received the call receives the request data.

  With the above configuration, the passenger of the green car 200 can call a crew member in another vehicle simply by operating the terminal device 12 of the seat. Since the passenger does not need to call the crew member by voice simply by operating the terminal device 12, there is an advantage particularly for a passenger of a so-called silent car in which any announcements in the vehicle are completely eliminated. In addition, since this system only needs to add operation means such as a calling button to the terminal device 12 with respect to the existing system and allow the crew member to carry an inexpensive FM receiver, cost increase can be suppressed.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the terminal device (audio terminal) 12. In addition to the volume switch 12a and the channel selection switch 12b, a crew call button 12c is provided. The passenger selects a channel corresponding to the crew member to be called by the channel selection switch and operates the crew call button 12c.

  In the present embodiment, the request data including the seat number is transmitted, but the request data may include the contents of the request. For example, a number or code is assigned in advance for each request content, and the passenger selects the number or code corresponding to the request content together with the channel and operates the call button 12c. The FM receiver 16 carried by the crew member displays a request, a seat number, and a number or code indicating the content of the request, so that the crew member can know the content of the request (for example, a drink request).

  Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated the case where a passenger calls a crew member, it is also possible to call a crew member using the system shown in FIG. That is, it is broadcast and called at the frequency of the crew member to be called from the server 10.

It is a system configuration figure of an embodiment. It is an external view of a terminal device.

Explanation of symbols

  10 servers, 12 terminal devices (audio terminals), 14 FM transmitters, 16 terminal devices (mobile terminals), 50 digital lines.

Claims (5)

A server including a music player;
Broadcast means for FM-modulating and broadcasting the music signal from the server;
Transmission means for transmitting a music signal from the server as a digital signal;
A seat terminal that is provided in a passenger seat and reproduces and outputs the transmitted digital signal;
An in-train service system comprising:
The seat terminal is provided with transmission means for transmitting request data from the passenger to the crew through the transmission means to the server,
The server transmits the request data to the broadcasting means;
The in-train service system, wherein the broadcast means broadcasts the request data from the server after FM modulation. The system of claim 1, wherein
The in-train service system, wherein the request data includes data for specifying the seat. The system of claim 1, wherein
The seat terminal has a plurality of preset reception channels,
The in-train service system, wherein the transmission means transmits the request data to the server using a remaining channel other than the channel that receives a music signal among the plurality of reception channels. The system of claim 3, wherein
The transmission means transmits the request data to the server using a different channel in the remaining channel for each type of crew when there are a plurality of kinds of crew,
The in-train service system, wherein the broadcast means broadcasts at a different frequency for each type of crew. In the system in any one of Claims 1-4,
The in-train service system, wherein the crew member receives the request data broadcast from the broadcasting means by a portable receiving means whose reception frequency can be changed.

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