JP2019046352A - Station service equipment, station service system, and fare adjustment processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide techniques to prevent deterioration in the processing efficiency of station service processing involving calculation of a fare and deterioration in user services.SOLUTION: A communication unit 27 performs data communication with a plurality of fare adjustment determination servers connected via a network. A request functional unit 21a transmits a request for calculation of a fare to the fare adjustment determination servers. An execution instruction functional unit 21b instructs the calculation of the fare to a fare adjustment determination server whose response to the request is received earliest by the communication unit 27. A fare adjustment processing functional unit 21c executes fare adjustment using the fare calculated by the fare adjustment determination server to which the execution instruction functional unit 21b instructed the calculation of the fare.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for settling fares for train users.

  Conventionally, an automatic ticket gate installed at a ticket gate has been used to process ticket gates for users entering the station yard and users participating from the station yard. The automatic ticket gate pays the fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station for the user if the ticket of the user participating from the station yard is a prepaid ticket.

  In addition, many stations install a plurality of automatic ticket gates at the ticket gates to prevent the ticket gates from being crowded. In order to reduce the cost of constructing the ticket gate system, it has been proposed that a configuration for calculating the fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station is provided to the server instead of the automatic ticket gate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This ticket gate system connects a plurality of automatic ticket gates to a server. When the server receives a request from any of the connected automatic ticket gates, it uses the ticket information included in the request (information read from the ticket by the automatic ticket gate) from the boarding station to the getting-off station Perform processing related to calculation of the amount of fares, etc. Then, the server sends the processing result to the automatic ticket gate that has sent the request.

JP, 2015-18501, A

  However, patent document 1 is a structure which performs the process concerning calculation of the amount of money of a fare, etc. on behalf of the several automatic ticket gate to which the server is connected. The processing load on the server is increased when processing requests for calculating the fare amount from the automatic ticket gate are concentrated. As the processing load increases, the server executes processing for calculating the amount of fare requested from the automatic ticket gate and the like, and the time required to transmit the processing result to the automatic ticket gate becomes longer. Therefore, the increase in the processing load of the server increases the time required for the automatic ticket gate to process the ticket gate, and reduces the processing efficiency of the ticket gate processing in the automatic ticket gate.

  In addition, when the server is stopped due to some kind of abnormality, this server will stop a plurality of automatic ticket gates that have been executing processing for calculating the fare amount and the like. As a result, the ticket gate is crowded with users, and the service to the users is degraded.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology for preventing the reduction in the processing efficiency of station processing, which involves the calculation of the fare amount, and the reduction in service to users.

  In order to achieve the above object, the station service device of the present invention is configured as follows.

  The station handling equipment according to the present invention is an automatic ticket gate, a settlement machine, a clerk terminal or the like which performs station handling processing with calculation of the fare amount.

  The station management device performs data communication with a plurality of upper servers connected via a network in a communication unit. The request request unit transmits a request request for calculating the fare amount to a plurality of upper servers. The request request is a request for requesting the higher-level server to calculate the fare amount, but the upper-level server does not necessarily execute the processing for calculating the fare amount by receiving this request.

  The execution instructing unit instructs the upper-level server, which has received the response to the request request at the earliest in the communication unit, calculation of the fare amount. The upper server executes the process of calculating the fare amount by receiving the instruction. Then, the settlement processing unit executes the settlement of the fare using the amount of the fare calculated in the upper server to which the execution instructing unit instructs the calculation of the amount of the fare.

  According to this configuration, among the higher-level servers (the plurality of higher-level servers that have sent the request request, it is possible that the upper-level server that has the processing load at that time is smaller than other upper-level servers) Higher) can execute processing for calculating the fare amount. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the processing efficiency of the station service processing (for example, the ticket processing for users who participate from the station yard in an automatic ticket gate) with calculation of the fare amount.

  In addition, since the station service transmits the request request to a plurality of upper servers, the whole station service stops even if any upper server transmitting the request request stops due to any abnormality. Without, you can continue station work processing.

  In addition, the station handling equipment stops the settlement of the fare when it is determined that the settlement of the fare can not be properly performed in the higher-level server whose execution instructing unit instructs the calculation of the amount of the fare in the settlement execution unit. It is preferable to The upper server processes, for example, the calculation of the fare amount in the first logic and the second logic different from the first logic, and if the processing results do not match, the user is notified It may be determined that the fares can not be properly settled. By configuring in this way, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation in which a fare is incorrectly collected.

  In addition, the request request unit is configured to transmit the request request to a plurality of upper level servers set in advance, instead of transmitting the request to all the upper level servers connected communicably in data communication via the network. preferable. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress a wasteful increase in traffic in the network in which the station service device and the upper server are communicably connected.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the processing efficiency of the station service processing accompanied by the calculation of the fare amount. In addition, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the service to the user.

It is the schematic which shows the station service system concerning this example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of a payment | settlement determination server. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of an automatic ticket gate. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a settlement account determination server. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the automatic ticket gate with respect to the user who participates from the station yard. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the settlement-of-accounts determination server concerning another example. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the automatic ticket gate with respect to the user who participates from the station yard concerning another example.

  Hereinafter, the station service system which is an embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a station service system according to this example. The station service system includes a general control server 4, a plurality of settlement determination servers 1, and a plurality of station services. The station service device referred to here is a generic name of various devices such as the automatic ticket gate 2, the settlement machine 3, the ticket vending machine (not shown), the clerk terminal (not shown) used in the station service. In this station service system, the station service is a terminal, the settlement determination server 1 functions as an edge server, and the central server 4 functions as a center server. The central server 4 is installed at the center of the railway company. The settlement determination server 1 is installed at a station or the like. A plurality of settlement determination servers 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) are connected to the central server 4 so as to be capable of data communication via a network. In addition, station work equipment (for example, station work equipment installed at the same station or an adjacent station, etc.) located at a relatively close position is connected to the settlement determination server 1 so as to enable data communication via a network. There is. The settlement determination server 1 can perform data communication with a plurality of station services via a network, and each station management device can also perform data communication with a plurality of settlement determination servers 1 via the network.

  Although FIG. 1 illustrates three settlement determination servers 1 (1A, 1B, and 1C), the number of settlement determination servers 1 is not limited to three. In the following description, when not distinguished from one another, it is referred to as the settlement determination server 1, and when distinguished, it is referred to as the settlement determination servers 1A, 1B, and 1C.

  In this station management system, station equipment (for example, automatic ticket gate 2 and settlement machine 3) performing station management processing with fare calculation is connected to the settlement determination server 1 so as to be capable of data communication, and calculation of fare is involved. You may make it the structure which does not connect the station service apparatus (for example, ticket vending machine) which does not perform station service processing to data settlement determination server 1 so that data communication is possible. According to this configuration, the settlement determination server 1 does not perform data communication with the station equipment that does not perform the station work process involving the calculation of the fare, so the processing load on the data communication of the settlement determination server 1 can be reduced.

  In addition, even if this station management system performs station management processing involving calculation of fares, the automatic ticket gate 2 for which quick processing is required due to the nature of the station management equipment can be used as the settlement determination server 1 With regard to the checkout machine 3 connected so as to be capable of data communication and not requiring quick processing, the configuration may be such that the data communication determination server 1 is not connected to be able to perform data communication. With this configuration, the processing load on the data communication of the settlement determination server 1 can be further reduced. The station equipment that is not connected to the settlement determination server 1 so as to be capable of data communication may be directly connected to the central server 4 via the network, or an edge server other than the settlement determination server 1 (not shown). It may be connected to the edge server connected to the central server 4 via That is, as to the station service device that is not connected to the settlement determination server 1 so as to be capable of data communication, any configuration may be used as long as log data of the executed station service process can be uploaded to the central server 4. For station services that are not connected to the settlement determination server 1 so as to be capable of data communication, the configuration may be provided to the own machine to calculate fares as necessary, or may be provided to the central server 4.

  The central server 4 tabulates and manages the processing results (logs) of the station service process processed in each station service device. The central server 4 acquires from the settlement determination server 1 the processing result of the station management processing performed in the station equipment connected to the settlement determination server 1 so as to be capable of data communication. In addition, the central server 4 is an edge server to which the processing result of the station service processing processed in the station service not connected to the settlement determination server 1 is directly connected from the station service or to which the station service is connected. (An edge server other than the settlement determination server 1).

  When the settlement determination server 1 receives a request request for calculation of the fare amount sent from the station service device, the settlement determination server 1 sends a response to the request request back to the station service device. Although this request request is a request to request the settlement determination server 1 to calculate the fare amount, the settlement determination server 1 executes the processing of calculating the fare amount by receiving the request request. Do not mean. When the settlement determination server 1 receives the execution instruction to instruct calculation of the amount of fare sent from the station service equipment, it calculates the amount of fare for the use of the train (fare from the boarding station to the getting off station) .

  Further, the settlement determination server 1 determines whether the fares can be properly settled. If it is determined that the settlement of the fare can be properly performed, the settlement determination server 1 returns that the settlement of the fare can be properly performed and the calculated amount of the fare to the station service device. Further, when it is determined that the settlement of the fare can not be properly performed, the settlement determination server 1 sends back to the station service that the settlement of the fare can not be appropriately performed. If the settlement of the fare can not be properly performed, the settlement determination server 1 may or may not notify the station equipment of the calculated amount of the fare. From the viewpoint of suppressing an increase in traffic of the network connecting the settlement determination server 1 and the station equipment so as to enable data communication, if the settlement of the fare can not be properly performed, the settlement determination server 1 calculates the amount of the calculated fare It is preferable not to notify to.

  Further, the settlement determination server 1 cumulatively stores the log of the station service process processed by the station service device connected so as to be capable of data communication, and stores the log of the station service process stored at an appropriate timing. Upload to the central server 4.

  The automatic ticket gate 2 is installed at the ticket gate of the station and restricts the passage of users in the ticket gate. Further, the settlement machine 3 is installed inside the station yard of the ticket gate of the station, receives a ticket such as a ticket possessed by the user, and settles the fare for the user.

  In addition, the ticket vending machine issues a ticket such as a ticket to the user. The clerk terminal performs station work processing according to the input operation by the station clerk. The station clerk performs an input operation to execute station service processing in response to the request of the user at the clerk terminal. The automatic ticket gate 2, the settlement machine 3, and the attendant terminal perform station work processing with fare calculation. Ticket vending machines do not carry out station work processing that involves the calculation of fares. That is, the automatic ticket gate 2, the settlement machine 3, and the attendant terminal belong to the station service device in the present invention, and the ticket vending machine does not belong to the station service device in the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the settlement determination server. The settlement determination server 1 includes a control unit 10, a communication unit 12, and a log data storage DB 13.

  The control unit 10 controls the operation of the settlement determination server 1 main body. The control unit 10 also has a fare calculation unit 11 that calculates the fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station. The fare calculation unit 11 has a first fare calculation function 11 a, a second fare calculation function 11 b, and a determination function 11 c.

  The first fare calculation function 11a calculates the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station by the first program programmed by the first logic. The second fare calculation function 11b calculates the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station by a second program programmed with a second logic different from the first logic. The judgment function 11c compares the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station calculated by the first fare calculating function 11a with the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station calculated by the second fare calculating function 11b. And determine whether fares can be properly settled.

  The communication unit 12 controls data communication with a station service device or the central server 4 connected so as to be capable of data communication via a network.

  The log data storage DB 13 stores a log of station service processing performed by a station service device connected so as to be capable of data communication. The settlement determination server 1 uploads the log data of the station service process stored in the log data storage DB 13 to the central server 4 at an appropriate timing. The appropriate timing is set, for example, in a period from when the operation of the train on one day is completed to the time the operation of the train on the next day is started (a timing when the operation of the train is avoided). It is preferable to distribute the processing load.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the automatic ticket gate. The automatic ticket gate 2 includes a control unit 21, an IC card reading unit 22, a magnetic ticket reading unit 23, a user detection unit 24, a display unit 25, a door opening and closing unit 26, and a communication unit 27. ing.

  The control unit 21 controls the operation of each unit of the automatic ticket gate 2 main body.

  The IC card reading unit 22 reads ticket information stored in a noncontact IC card having a wireless communication function, and writes ticket information on the noncontact IC card. The IC card reading unit 22 has a wireless communication area in a range of several centimeters from the antenna, and reads ticket information or a ticket by wireless communication with a contactless IC card that the user has crawled into the wireless communication area. Write information. The automatic ticket gate 2 is provided with an antenna such that the wireless communication area is near the entrance of the ticket gate. The contactless IC card that can be used as a ticket includes a prepaid card, a commuter pass, and the like. The non-contact type IC card that can be used as a ticket is well known, and thus the detailed description is omitted here.

  The magnetic ticket reading unit 23 reads ticket information stored in a magnetic ticket such as a ticket inserted into the magnetic ticket insertion slot, and writes ticket information for the magnetic ticket. The automatic ticket gate 2 is provided with a magnetic ticket insertion port near the entrance of the ticket gate passage.

  The user detection unit 24 detects the position of the user who is passing through the ticket gate passage by using a plurality of sensors arranged along the passage direction of the user in the ticket gate passage.

  The display unit 25 outputs a message for the user who has entered the ticket gate passage.

  The door opening / closing unit 26 closes the door located on the exit side of the user when the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage. When allowing the user to pass through the ticket gate passage, the door opening / closing unit 26 opens the door located on the exit side of the user.

  The communication unit 27 controls data communication with the settlement determination server 1 connected so as to be capable of data communication via the network. As described above, each automatic ticket gate 2 is connected to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 so as to be capable of data communication.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 21 has a request request function unit 21a, an execution instruction function unit 21b, and a settlement process function unit 21c. The control unit 21 executes the settlement processing method according to the present invention.

  The request request function unit 21 a controls processing of transmitting a request request for calculating the amount of the fare from the communication unit 27 to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1. Although this request request may be transmitted to all the settlement determination servers 1 connected so as to be capable of data communication via the network, here, it is transmitted only to the settlement determination server 1 set in advance. For example, when the request request function unit 21a is set to transmit the request request to the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1B, the request request function unit 21a transmits the request request to the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1B. It does not transmit to the determination server 1C.

  The execution instructing function unit 21 b determines the settlement determination server 1 that executes the process related to the calculation of the fare amount. Further, the execution instructing function unit 21 b controls a process of transmitting, from the communication unit 27, an execution instruction instructing calculation of the fare amount to the settlement determination server 1.

  The settlement processing function unit 21 c controls the processing of adjusting the fare using the amount of the fare calculated in the settlement determination server 1.

  The automatic ticket gate 2 according to this example may not have a configuration for calculating the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station. That is, the automatic ticket gate 2 according to this example can achieve cost reduction by not having a configuration for calculating the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station. Similarly for station work equipment (settlement machine 3 and attendant terminal etc.) other than the automatic ticket gate 2 that performs station processing using the amount of fare from boarding station to boarding station, the fares from boarding station to boarding station are also Cost reduction can be achieved by not having a configuration for calculating the amount of money.

  In addition, since this station management system connects a plurality of station management devices that perform station processing using the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station to the settlement determination server 1, the fare system from the boarding station to the getting-off station The total number of components for calculating the amount can be substantially reduced.

  Next, the operations of the checkout determination server 1 and the automatic ticket gate 2 of this station management system will be described. In this example, the station service according to the present invention is the automatic ticket gate 2. Here, the ticket processing of the automatic ticket gate 2 for a user who participates from the station yard using a prepaid ticket will be taken as an example. The prepaid ticket may be a noncontact IC card or a magnetic ticket. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the settlement determination server. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic ticket gate for the user participating from the station yard.

  When the automatic ticket gate 2 receives a ticket owned by the user (here, a prepaid ticket), it reads the ticket information recorded in the ticket (s21, s22). The automatic ticket gate 2 receives as a ticket at s21 a noncontact IC card which the user has crawled into the wireless communication area of the IC card reading unit 22 or a magnetic ticket which the user has inserted into the magnetic ticket insertion slot. In addition, the automatic ticket gate 2 uses the ticket identification number, the previous usage type (admission or participation), the last used station, the value balance, and the like as ticket information in s22 as ticket information for the accepted ticket. read. The IC card reading unit 22 or the magnetic ticket reading unit 23 reads the ticket information at s22.

  The automatic ticket gate 2 determines in the control unit 21 whether the previous type of usage read as ticket information in s22 is admission or participation (s23). The control unit 21 determines that a cycle error has occurred if the previous type of use is participation (if it is not entrance), and for the user who holds the ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time It is determined that the passage of the ticket gate passage is not permitted (s24), and the process returns to s21. The automatic ticket gate 2 closes the door located on the exit side of the ticket gate passage and gives a notification by means of a warning sound to the user who determined that the door opening / closing unit 26 does not permit passage of the ticket gate passage.

  If the automatic ticket gate 2 determines in s23 that the previous type of use is entrance, it sends a request request for calculation of the fare amount to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 set in advance (s25) . For example, when the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1B are set as the settlement determination server 1 to which the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits a request for calculating the fare, the request request function unit 21a is a settlement determination server A request request message for each of 1A and the settlement determination server 1B is created. Further, the request request function unit 21a transmits a request request message generated by controlling the communication unit 27 to each of the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1B. In this case, the request request function unit 21a does not create and send a request request message to the settlement determination server 1C. The request request function unit 21a performs processing related to creation of a request request message to a plurality of settlement determination servers 1 set in advance and transmission according to multithread.

  The settlement determination server 1 may use the communication unit 12 to receive a request request for calculation of the fare amount or a calculation instruction of the fare amount transmitted from the station service equipment (here, the automatic ticket gate 2). I am waiting (s1, s2). When the settlement determination server 1 receives a request for calculating the amount of fare from any of the station equipments, the settlement determination server 1 responds to the station equipment that has transmitted the request request (s3), and returns to s1.

  When the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits a request for calculating the fare to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 in s25, a response from one of the settlement determination servers 1 that has transmitted the request request this time (a request for calculation of the fare) Waiting for a response to the request (s26). When the automatic ticket gate 2 receives a response to the request for calculating the fare in the communication unit 27 from any one of the settlement determination servers 1, the execution instructing function unit 21b receives the response from the settlement determination server 1, It is determined that the settlement determination server 1 instructs calculation of the fare amount (s27). That is, the execution instructing function unit 21b selects the payment determination server 1 that has received the response to the request request earliest among the plurality of payment determination servers 1 that transmitted the request for calculating the fare amount in s25. It is determined that the settlement determination server 1 instructs calculation of the amount of money.

  When the automatic ticket gate 2 receives a response from any of the settlement determination servers 1 at s26, it ignores the responses from the other settlement determination servers 1.

  The execution instruction function unit 21b controls the communication unit 27 to transmit a calculation instruction of the fare amount to the settlement determination server 1 determined in s27 (s28). The instruction to calculate the amount of the fare includes at least the last available station (that is, the current boarding station) read as ticket information in s22.

  The settlement determination server 1 receives, at the communication unit 12, an instruction to calculate the amount of the fare from any of the station equipment (here, the automatic ticket gate 2) connected so as to be able to perform data communication via the network (s2) , The first fare calculation process, and the second fare calculation process (s4, s5). The settlement determination server 1 performs the first fare calculation process with the first fare calculation function 11 a and performs the second fare calculation process with the second fare calculation function 11 b. As described above, the first fare calculation function 11a calculates the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station according to the first program. The second fare calculation function 11b calculates the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station by the second program. The getting-off station used in s4 and s5 is the installation station of the automatic ticket gate 2 which has sent the calculation instruction of the amount of the fare received by the communication unit 12 this time. The automatic ticket gate 2 may be configured to include information indicating the station (installed station) where the aircraft is installed in the calculation instruction of the amount of the fare transmitted in s28, and the settlement determination server 1 may The station where the automatic ticket gate 2 is installed may be determined from the identification number or the like of the automatic ticket gate 2 that has sent the received calculation instruction of the fare amount.

  It is preferable that the settlement determination server 1 perform the processes s4 and s5 simultaneously in parallel in order to suppress the speed reduction of the ticket processing in the automatic ticket gate 2.

  If there is a bug in the process of calculating the current fare amount in the first program, the first fare calculation function 11a can not calculate a proper amount. Similarly, if there is a bug in the process of calculating the current fare amount in the second program, the second fare calculation function 11b can not calculate the appropriate amount. Therefore, when the amount of the fare calculated by the first fare calculation function 11a does not match the amount of the fare calculated by the second fare calculation function, at least one of the first program and the second program is There is a bug in the process of calculating the fare amount this time.

  If the program that has a bug in the process of calculating the fare amount for this time is both the first program and the second program, the fare amount calculated by the first fare calculation function 11a, and The possibility that the amount of the fare calculated by the fare calculation function 11b of 2 is the same is extremely small. In other words, it is almost the case that the program having a bug in the process of calculating the current fare amount is both the first program and the second program, in most cases, the fare calculated by the first fare calculation function 11a. And the amount of fare calculated by the second fare calculation function 11b do not match.

  The settlement determination server 1 determines whether the price of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation processing matches the amount of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation processing in the determination function 11c (s6) . If the price of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process and the price of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation process do not match, the determination function 11 c determines that the fare can not be properly settled. (S9) The fare settlement prohibition is transmitted to the automatic ticket gate 2 which has sent the calculation instruction of the fare amount in the communication unit 12 (s10).

  In addition, when the price of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process matches the price of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation process, the determination function 11c determines that the fare can be properly settled. (S7), the fare settlement permission is transmitted to the automatic ticket gate 2 which has sent the fare settlement request in the communication unit 12 (s8). The settlement permission includes the amount of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process (may be the amount of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation process). After sending the settlement permission to the automatic ticket gate 2 at s8, the settlement determination server 1 waits for reception of the station service processing log (the ticket processing log for the user whose fare has been calculated this time) from the automatic ticket gate 2 (S11).

  Referring back to FIG. 5, when the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits an instruction to calculate the amount of the fare to the settlement determination server 1 in the communication unit 27 in s28, the settlement determination server 1 determines the settlement permission result or the settlement prohibition determination result. Waiting for reception by the communication unit 27 (s29). When the automatic ticket gate 2 receives the determination result from the settlement determination server 1 at the communication unit 27, it determines whether the settlement processing function unit 21c permits settlement or prohibits settlement (s30). When the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that the settlement is prohibited in s30, the automatic ticket gate 2 does not permit the user who holds the ticket whose ticket information is read this time in s24 to pass through the ticket passage. It determines with it and returns to s21.

  Further, when the settlement processing function unit 21c determines that the settlement is permitted in s27, the automatic ticket gate 2 determines whether the settlement is possible (s31). At s31, the value balance included in the ticket information read from the ticket at s22 by the settlement processing function unit 21c is equal to or greater than the amount of the fare included in the determination result received from the settlement determination server 1 this time. Determine if it is. If the value balance included in the ticket information read from the ticket in s22 is equal to or more than the amount of the fare included in the determination result received from the settlement determination server 1 this time, the automatic ticket gate 2 judge. On the other hand, if the value balance included in the ticket information read from the ticket in s22 is less than the amount of the fare included in the determination result received from the settlement determination server 1 this time, the automatic ticket gate 2 Judge as impossible.

  If the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that settlement is impossible in s28, it determines that the user holding the ticket whose ticket information has been read this time in s24 is not permitted to pass through the ticket passage, s21. Return to

  If the settlement processing function unit 21c determines that the settlement can be made, the settlement processing function unit 21c performs a settlement process on the ticket received in s21 (s32). In s32, for ticket, participation time (current time), participation station (station where own aircraft is installed), amount of fare for use of this train (included in judgment result received in s29) The participation data in which the value of the fare which is present, the value balance (the value obtained by subtracting the amount of the fare calculated this time from the value balance read in s2) and the like are associated is written as ticket information. Further, the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that the user holding the ticket whose ticket information has been read this time is permitted to pass through the ticket passage (s33). The automatic ticket gate 2 opens a door located on the exit side of the ticket passage for the user who has determined that the passage of the ticket passage is permitted. Furthermore, the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits the log of the station service process this time (the log of the ticket examination process for the user who permitted the passage of the ticket passage this time) to the settlement determination server 1 (s34), and returns to s21.

  The settlement determination server 1 receives the log of the station service process (the log of the ticket processing for the user who calculated the current fare) from the automatic ticket gate 2 that has transmitted the settlement permission at the communication unit 12, the received station service log Are stored in the log data storage DB 13 (s12), and the process returns to s1.

  Thus, in this example, among the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 that have sent the request for calculation of the fare amount, the automatic ticket gate 2 is the settlement determination server 1 that has responded most quickly to this request. Instruct them to calculate the fare amount. Among the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 that have sent the request request, the settlement determination server 1 that has responded most quickly to the request request is a settlement determination server 1 whose processing load at that time is smaller than that of other settlement settlement servers 1. There is a high possibility. Therefore, the fall of the processing efficiency of the ticket gate process in the automatic ticket gate 2 can be prevented.

  In addition, since the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits a request for calculating the amount of the fare to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1, even if any one of the settlement determination servers 1 stops due to any abnormality, it does not stop. Ticket ticket processing (station work processing) can be continued. Therefore, the deterioration of the service to the user can be suppressed.

  It should be noted that, when any of the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 transmitting the request request for calculation of the fare amount is stopped due to some kind of abnormality, the automatic ticket gate 2 is another settlement determination server 1 not stopped at that time. (Normally, the settlement determination server 1 which does not transmit the request request concerning calculation of the fare amount) may be added to the settlement determination server 1 transmitting the request request concerning calculation of the fare amount. For example, when the automatic ticket gate 2 is set to transmit a request request for calculation of the fare amount to the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1B, when the settlement determination server 1B is stopped due to some abnormality, The setting may be changed to transmit a request for calculating the amount of money to the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1C.

  Further, the settlement determination server 1 calculates the amount of fare from the boarding station to the getting-off station by each of the first fare calculation function 11a and the second fare calculation function 11b, and the calculated two fares coincide with each other. If not, it is determined that the fare adjustment can not be performed properly, and the fare adjustment is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent false receipt of fares, and to reduce the user's confidence and risk of damage.

  Further, since the settlement determination server 1 is a spec that can execute the process shown in FIG. 4 in large numbers in parallel, an increase in time required for the ticket processing by the user can also be suppressed.

  Further, if the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that a cycle error has occurred in s23, it does not transmit a fare settlement request to the settlement determination server 1, so data communication between the settlement determination server 1 and the automatic ticket gate 2 Traffic can be reduced.

  Further, in the above example, the settlement determination server 1 responds to the settlement request of the fare from the automatic ticket gate 2 by the two programs (the first program and the second program) programmed with different logic. Although the amount of money is calculated, the amount of money for the fare may be calculated by three or more programs programmed with different logics. In this case, it is determined that the fares can be properly settled if all the fare amounts calculated in each program match, otherwise (if there is a program in which the calculated fare amounts do not match) , It may be determined that the fare adjustment can not be properly performed.

  Further, the settlement determination server 1 may be configured to calculate the amount of the fare with a single program in response to the settlement request of the fare from the automatic ticket gate 2 (second fare calculation shown in FIG. 2) It may be a configuration without a function). In this case, the processes s5, s6, s9, and s10 shown in FIG. 4 may be omitted.

  In addition, even when the settlement determination server 1 receives a request for calculation of the fare amount or a calculation instruction for the fare amount from a station machine other than the automatic ticket gate 2 (for example, the settlement machine 3 or a clerk terminal), Execute the process shown in 4. When it is determined that the settlement of the fare can not be properly performed in the settlement determination server 1, the settlement machine 3 cancels the issue of the settlement ticket. Further, when it is determined that the settlement of the fare can be properly performed in the settlement determination server 1, the settlement machine 3 performs the settlement of the fare and the processing of issuing a settlement ticket.

  In addition, since station processing equipments, such as a checkout machine 3 and a valet terminal, the process (a boarding station, the getting-off station) which a user utilized the railway is known, it abbreviate | omits detailed description here.

  In the above example, although the request request function unit 21a performs the process of creating request request messages for the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 and the process related to transmission by multithreading, the configuration may be performed by a single thread. Good. In the case where processing for sending and generating request request messages for a plurality of settlement determination servers 1 is performed in a single thread, there is a high possibility that the response from the settlement determination server 1 that transmits the request request telegrams earlier.

  For this reason, when the request request message relating to the calculation of the fare amount to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 and the processing relating to the transmission are performed in a single thread, the calculation instruction of the fare amount is the specific settlement determination server 1 It is preferable to additionally provide a configuration that prevents concentration.

  For example, when the automatic ticket gate 2 is set to transmit a request request for calculation of the fare amount to the settlement determination server 1A and the settlement determination server 1B, for each execution of the processing shown in FIG. The order of the settlement determination server 1 performing the process of preparation and transmission of the request request message relating to the calculation, the order of the settlement judgment server 1A and the settlement judgment server 1B, the order of the settlement judgment server 1B and the settlement judgment server 1A, It may be configured to be alternately changed (changed in cycles). In addition, the automatic ticket gate 2 may be configured to randomly switch the order of the preparation of the request request message for calculation of the fare amount and the settlement determination server 1 performing the process for transmission.

  Further, in the above example, the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits the log data concerning the user's participation process to the settlement determination server 1, and the settlement determination server 1 stores the log data in the log data storage DB 13; It is not necessary to store log data for the user's entry process on the machine 2 side. Thereby, automatic ticket gate 2 can control storage capacity which memorizes log data concerning station work processing. In addition, the station service equipment (settlement machine 3 etc.) other than the automatic ticket gate 2 also performs the same process as the automatic ticket gate 2 described above on the settlement determination server 1 to process the station affairs concerning the settlement of the fare. It is not necessary to store log data of

  Further, the automatic ticket gate 2 may be configured to transmit not only the participation process but also the log data for the entrance process to the settlement determination server 1, and the settlement determination server 1 may store the log data in the log data storage DB13. If comprised in this way, the automatic ticket gate 2 can make unnecessary the memory | storage part for memorize | storing the log data concerning station work processing. In addition, every time the station service processing is performed, station equipment other than the automatic ticket gate 2 also transmits log data for the station service processing to the settlement determination server 1 and the central server 4 connected via the network. It may be configured to

  The settlement determination server 1 uploads the log data concerning the station work processing stored in the log data storage DB 13 to the central server 4 at an appropriate timing. Therefore, the central control server 4 can collectively manage the station service process processed by each station service device.

  In the above example, it is determined that the settlement determination server 1 determines whether the fares can be properly settled, and whether the automatic ticket gate 2 permits the passage of the user in the ticket gate passage is determined as follows. It may be shown.

  In this example, it is determined whether the settlement determination server 1 can properly settle the fare and whether or not the passage of the user in the ticket gate is permitted, and the automatic ticket gate 2 is based on the determination result of the settlement determination server 1 , Is configured to restrict the passage of the user in the ticket gate passage. Specifically, the settlement determination server 1 executes the process shown in FIG. 6, and the automatic ticket gate 2 executes the process shown in FIG. The operations of the settlement determination server 1 and the automatic ticket gate 2 according to this example will be described.

  When the automatic ticket gate 2 receives a ticket owned by the user (here, a prepaid ticket), it reads ticket information recorded in the ticket (s61, s62). The processing according to s61 and s62 is the same as s21 and s22 in the above-described example. The automatic ticket gate 2 determines whether the previous type of usage read as ticket information in s22 is admission or participation (s63). The process according to s63 is the same as s23 in the above-described example. If the last type of use is participation, the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that a cycle error has occurred, and passes the ticket passage for the user who holds the ticket whose ticket information has been read this time. It determines with not permitting (s64) and returns to s61. The process according to s64 is the same as s24 in the above-described example.

  When the automatic ticket gate 2 determines in s23 that the previous type of use is entrance, it transmits a request request for calculation of the fare amount to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 set in advance (s65) . The process according to s65 is the same as s25 in the above-described example.

  The settlement determination server 1 may use the communication unit 12 to receive a request request for calculation of the fare amount or a calculation instruction of the fare amount transmitted from the station service equipment (here, the automatic ticket gate 2). I am waiting (s41, s42). When the settlement determination server 1 receives a request request for calculation of the fare amount from any of the station services, it responds to the station service that has sent the request request (s43), and returns to s41. The processing according to s41 to s43 is the same as s1 to s3 in the above-described example.

  When the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits a request for calculating the fare to the plurality of settlement determination servers 1 in s65, the automatic ticket gate 2 waits for a response from any of the settlement determination servers 1 that has transmitted the request request (s66) . When the communication unit 27 receives a response to the request for calculating the fare from any of the settlement determination servers 1, the execution instructing function unit 21b receives the settlement determination server 1 that has received the response from the communication unit 27 this time. It is determined to be the settlement determination server 1 instructing calculation of (s67). The processing of s66 and s67 is the same as s26 and s27 in the above-described example.

  The execution instruction function unit 21b controls the communication unit 27 to transmit a calculation instruction of the fare amount to the settlement determination server 1 determined in s67 (s68). The instructions for calculating the fare amount include ticket identification information read from the ticket received in s62, ticket type including the last usage type (admission or participation), last used station, value balance, etc. It is included.

  When the settlement unit 12 receives an instruction to calculate the fare amount from one of the station equipment (here, the automatic ticket gate 2) connected via the network so as to be able to perform data communication (s42) , And the first fare calculation process and the second fare calculation process are performed (s44, s45). The processing of s42, s44 and s45 is the same as the processing of s2, s4 and s5 in the above-mentioned example.

  The settlement determination server 1 determines whether the price of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation processing matches the amount of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation processing in the determination function 11c (s46) . The process according to s46 is the same as s6 in the above-described example. If the price of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process and the price of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation process do not match, the determination function 11 c determines that the fare can not be properly settled. (S52), to the automatic ticket gate 2 which has sent the settlement request of the fare in the communication unit 12, transmits a prohibition of passage of the user in the ticket passage (s53). The process according to s52 is the same as the process according to s9 in the example described above.

  In addition, when the price of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process matches the price of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation process, the determination function 11c determines that the fare can be properly settled. Then (s47), it is determined whether it is possible to settle (s48). The process according to s47 is the same as s7 in the above-described example. In s48, the determination function 11c calculates, in the first fare calculation process, the value balance which is one of the ticket information included in the calculation instruction of the fare amount received from the automatic ticket gate 2 in s42. It is determined whether it is equal to or higher than the amount of the fare (may be the amount of the fare calculated in the second fare calculation process). The determination function 11c determines that the value balance which is one of the ticket information included in the calculation instruction of the amount of the fare received from the automatic ticket gate 2 at s42 is the first fare If it is more than the amount of the fare calculated in the calculation process, it is determined that settlement is possible, and conversely, the value balance which is one of the ticket information included in the calculation instruction of the amount of the fare received from the automatic ticket gate 2 in s42. If it is less than the amount of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process, it is determined that the settlement is impossible. If it is determined in s48 that the settlement is not possible, the settlement determination server 1 transmits the passage prohibition of the user in the ticket gate passage to the automatic ticket gate 2 which has transmitted the calculation instruction of the fare amount in the communication unit 12 in s53.

  In addition, the determination function 11c determines that the value balance which is one of the ticket information included in the calculation instruction of the amount of the fare received from the automatic ticket gate 2 in s42 is the fare calculated in the first fare calculation processing. If the amount is equal to or more than the amount, the settlement data is generated (s49). In s49, the participation time (the current time), the participating station (the station where the automatic ticket gate 2 that sent the calculation of the amount of the fare received in s42 is installed), the amount of the fare for using this train From the value balance which is one of the ticket information included in the fare adjustment request received from the automatic ticket gate 2 in s42, the value balance of the fare calculated in the first fare calculation process, the current train The settlement data is generated by correlating the value of the fare amount required for the use of the

  The settlement determination server 1 transmits the passage permission of the user in the ticket gate passage to the automatic ticket gate 2 that has sent the calculation instruction of the fare amount in the communication unit 12 (s50). The traffic permission transmitted in s50 includes the settlement data generated in s49. The settlement determination server 1 stores the settlement data generated in s49 in the log data storage DB 13 as log data for the present station work process (s51), and returns to s41.

  The processes of s50 and s51 may be performed in the order of s50 and s51 as described above in order to suppress an increase in the processing time required for the ticket examination process of the user in the automatic ticket gate 2, although the order may be reversed. Is good.

  Referring back to FIG. 7, when the automatic ticket gate 2 transmits an instruction to calculate the amount of the fare to the settlement determination server 1 in the communication unit 27 in s 68, the passage permission of the user in the ticket gate passage from the settlement determination server 1 or It is waiting for the communication unit 27 to receive the judgment result of the no-passage (s69). When the automatic ticket gate 2 receives the determination result from the settlement determination server 1, the automatic ticket gate 2 determines whether the determination result indicates the passage permission or the passage prohibition (s70). If the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that the passage is prohibited in s70, the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that the user holding the ticket whose ticket information has been read this time in s64 is not permitted to pass through the ticket passage. Return.

  In addition, when the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that the passage is permitted in s70, the automatic ticket gate 2 performs the settlement process of writing the settlement data included in the determination result received in s66 as the participation data in the ticket (s71). Then, the automatic ticket gate 2 determines that the user holding the ticket whose ticket information has been read this time is permitted to pass through the ticket passage (s72), and returns to s61. The processing of s71 and s72 is the same as the processing of s32 and s33 in the above-described example.

  Even in the processes shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the same effects as the above-described example can be obtained. Further, in this example, the automatic ticket gate 2 does not transmit the log of the ticket processing (participation processing) to the user who permitted the passage of the ticket gate passage to the settlement account determination server 1, so the automatic ticket gate 2 and the settlement determination The traffic of communication with the server 1 can be further suppressed.

1 (1A, 1B, 1C) ... Settlement server 2 ... Automatic ticket gate 3 ... Settlement machine 4 ... Central server 10 ... Control unit 11 ... Freight calculation part 11a ... 1st freight calculation function 11b ... 2nd freight calculation function 11c ... determination function 12 ... communication unit 13 ... log data storage DB
21 control unit 21a request request function unit 21b execution instruction function unit 21c settlement processing function unit 22 IC card reading unit 23 magnetic ticket reading unit 24 user detection unit 25 display unit 26 door opening and closing unit 27 ... Communication unit

Claims (7)

A communication unit that performs data communication with a plurality of upper servers connected via a network;
A request request unit for transmitting a request for calculating the fare amount to a plurality of the upper servers;
An execution instructing unit that instructs the upper server, the response to the request request of which is the earliest received by the communication unit, to calculate the fare amount;
A station management apparatus, comprising: a settlement processing unit that executes settlement of fares using the amount of fare calculated at the upper-level server at which the execution instruction unit instructs calculation of the amount of fares.   2. The settlement processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the settlement processing unit stops the settlement of the fare when it is determined that the settlement of the fare can not be properly performed in the upper-level server to which the execution instructing unit instructs calculation of the amount of the fare. Station work equipment.   The station work apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request request unit transmits the request request to the plurality of upper servers set in advance.   The station work apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a passage control unit for restricting passage of the user in the ticket gate passage. The station service device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A plurality of upper servers communicably connected via a network;
The above-mentioned upper rank server is provided with a fare calculation unit for calculating the amount of fare, in the station service system.   The above-mentioned fare calculation unit of the above-mentioned upper-level server processes the calculation of the amount of fare according to the first logic and processes it with the second logic different from the first logic, and these processing results must match The station service system according to claim 5, wherein it is determined that the fare can not be properly settled for the user. A settlement processing method to be executed by a control unit of a station management device that performs data communication with a plurality of upper servers connected via a network by a communication unit,
Send a request for calculation of the fare amount to a plurality of the above-mentioned upper servers,
The response to the request request instructs the upper-level server received earlier by the communication unit to calculate the fare amount.
A settlement processing method, wherein settlement of a fare is performed using the amount of fare calculated at the upper-level server, the execution instructing unit instructing calculation of the amount of fare.

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