RU2710803C1 - MOBILE TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT SYSTEM IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT USING iBEACON BEACONS - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electronic equipment.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to means of automation of transport processes and can be used for electronic automated payment and control of payment for passage in public transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams, taxis, electric trains, passenger trains). Technical result is achieved due to an automated system for payment and passage control, which comprises telematic platform, identifiers of passengers in form of mobile device with Bluetooth module and mobile application, identifiers of stops in the form of iBeacon beacons, identifiers of vehicles in the form of iBeacon beacons, mobile devices of controllers with a mobile application, WEB-portal. A passenger having a mobile device with a Bluetooth module and a mobile application is simply able to arrive at a stopping station and select a destination in the mobile application, and then make a trip on the equipped vehicle. At that, payment system will automatically determine passenger identifier, identifier of stopping point of landing in vehicle, identifier of vehicle, on which trip is made, identifier of stopping point of vehicle exit, calculates distance and cost of travel, performs mutual settlements between suppliers and consumers of transportation services, via web-portal will provide required information to all passengers and participants of transport process organization.EFFECT: broader functional capabilities of transport payment systems owing to complete automation of passage payment without passenger participation using Bluetooth technologies and iBeacon beacons.1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to automation of processes in transport and can be used for electronic automated payment and control of fare payment in public transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams, taxis, electric trains, passenger trains).

The known system is “Automated system of fare payment and verification of travel documents on transport” (RF patent 2115953, class G07B 15/00, 15/04, publ. July 20, 1998). The invention relates to control devices in transport, mainly in the subway and railway transport. The technical result created by the invention is to automate the processes of selling tickets, checking them during boarding and subsequent statistical processing of the results of the transport system and its individual sections. The system consists of a central post (CPU) and lobby (station) complexes (VK). The central post contains automatic workstations (AWS), consisting of a processor with a registrar and an output display unit, a storage unit for codes of travel documents, exchange units, memory units and logical processing of information received from the VC. The lobby complex consists of payment points (PO) of travel documents, automatic checkpoints (ACP), automatic workstations similar to AWP CPUs.

A disadvantage of the known system is the need for the installation and ongoing maintenance of expensive equipment in the lobby (station) complexes (turnstiles, ticket offices), the high cost of issuing paper or plastic tickets. Passengers must interact with payment terminals at a close distance (1-2 cm). It is simply impossible to use such a system on ground passenger transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams). It is more suitable for rail transport, where passengers land through the vestibules of the stations (metro, trains). It is not applicable for monitoring the movement of goods.

The well-known system is “Automated system of fare payment and verification of travel documents on transport” (RF patent 2121163, class G07B 15/00, 15/04, publ. 10/27/1998). The system provides automation of processes for the sale of travel documents, their verification during boarding and subsequent statistical processing of the results of the transport system and its individual sections. The system consists of a central post, lobby (station) complexes, a processing center, an emission center, a magnetic ticket coding center, a Contactless Smart Card personalization center and a travel document storage connected to each other by a system multiplex channel.

A disadvantage of the known system is the need to install and constantly maintain expensive equipment in the lobby (station) complexes (turnstiles, ticket offices), the creation of a specialized center for the issue of magnetic and plastic cards, the high cost of issuing paper or plastic tickets. Passengers must interact with payment terminals at a close distance (1-2 cm). It is simply impossible to use such a system on ground passenger transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams). It is more suitable for rail transport, where passengers land through the vestibules of the stations (metro, trains). It is not applicable for monitoring the movement of goods.

The known system is “Automated system of fare payment and control of travel documents” (RF patent 2176105, CL G07B 15/00, 15/04, published on November 20, 2001). This invention relates to means of automating processes in transport and can be used for automated payment of travel and control of travel documents in transport, for example in the subway. The technical result consists in increasing the accuracy and reliability of the system and expanding its functionality. The system contains a central complex, a station complex, a control unit (workstation (workstation)), entry points for controlling travel documents, all nodes and blocks of the system interact via communication buses.

A disadvantage of the known system is the need to install and constantly maintain expensive equipment in the lobby (station) complexes (turnstiles, ticket offices), the creation of a specialized center for the issue of magnetic and plastic cards, the high cost of issuing paper or plastic tickets. Passengers must interact with payment terminals at a close distance (1-2 cm). Such a system cannot be used on ground passenger transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams). It is more suitable for rail transport, where passengers land through the vestibules of the stations (metro, trains). It is not applicable for monitoring the movement of goods.

The known system is “Automated system of fare payment and control of travel documents” (RF patent 2176106, CL G07B 15/00, 15/04, published on November 20, 2001). The invention relates to a means of automating processes in transport and can be used for automated fare collection and control of travel documents in transport, mainly in ground public transport. The technical result consists in increasing the accuracy and reliability of the system and expanding its functionality. The system contains a central complex, a station complex, passenger vehicles, points of sale of travel documents, points of control of travel documents are located in vehicles.

A disadvantage of the known system is the need to install and constantly maintain expensive equipment in vehicles (turnstiles, validators), the high cost of issuing paper or plastic tickets, creating and deploying a ticket sales network. Validators must be removed from vehicles to read travel information from them. Passengers must interact with payment terminals at a close distance (1-2 cm). It takes a lot of time to board passengers in the vehicle through the turnstile (especially at the final stops). It is not applicable for monitoring the movement of goods.

The known system is “Automated system of payment for travel and control of travel documents using cell phones and CMC messages” (patent KZ 23785, class G07B 15/00, published March 15, 2011). The essence of the known system is the use of cellular communication to pay for travel in vehicles, where money for travel is read from the personal account of the subscriber of the mobile operator, and as a ticket to the controller on the line of transport an electronic sms message containing data that confirms the payment of passenger travel is presented.

A disadvantage of the known system is that this system does not allow the carrier to obtain information about passenger flows, the place of entry and exit of passengers, which makes it impossible to optimize the operating schedule of rolling stock on the line. It is not applicable for monitoring the movement of goods.

The known method and system - "Method and system for the use of contactless payment cards in the transport system" (patent No. 2421812 class. G06Q 40/00 published on 06/20/2011). The technical result of this patent is to ensure the speed and reliability of passenger service, the use of payment cards without requiring prepayment for access, and performing group processing of transaction records using the combined balance. The method comprises the steps of receiving payment device data from a payment device, the payment device including at least an account identifier identifying a payment account associated with said payment device, providing a user with access to a payment area of a transport system. This solution allows you to pay for travel in public transport by contactless bank cards.

A disadvantage of the known method and system is the need for the vehicle to have expensive cash registers capable of processing contactless bank cards. Passengers must interact with payment terminals at a close distance (1-2 cm), which in many cases is simply impossible due to overcrowding of the vehicle. It is not applicable for monitoring the movement of goods.

The closest prototype is the well-known system - "Automated system of payment for travel and control of travel documents using cell phones and CMC messages" (patent KZ 23785, class G07B 15/00, published March 15, 2011).

The objective of the present invention is to develop a transport payment system with the ability to automatically fix the place of entry / exit of a passenger into the vehicle without his participation, monitor its movement by ensuring the interaction of the passenger identifier with the identifiers of stopping points and vehicles at a distance of several tens of meters, the automatic exchange of mobile data passenger applications with a telematics platform, which determines the distance and cost of each trip passenger taking into account zonal tariffs, distances, perform settlements between suppliers and users of transport services, the provision of reporting information about the trips of passengers to all participants of the organization of the transport process through the web-portal, reducing the cost of implementation and operation of the system, ease of integration into any existing transport payment system.

The technical result consists in expanding the functionality of transport payment systems due to the full automation of fare payment without a passenger using Bluetooth technology and identifying transport infrastructure using iBeacon beacons. The technical result is achieved through an automated payment and travel control system that contains a telematics platform, passenger identifiers in the form of a mobile device with a Bluetooth module and a mobile application, identifiers of stopping points in the form of iBeacon beacons, vehicle identifiers in the form of iBeacon beacons, mobile devices of controllers with mobile application, WEB portal.

For a passenger who has a mobile device with a Bluetooth module and a mobile application, it is enough to simply arrive at the stopping point and select the destination in the mobile application, and then make a trip on the equipped vehicle. In this case, the payment system will automatically determine the identifier of the passenger, the identifier of the stopping point for boarding the vehicle, the identifier of the vehicle on which the trip was made, the identifier of the stopping point for exiting the vehicle, calculate the distance and cost of the trip, make settlements between suppliers and consumers of transport services, through the web portal will provide the necessary information to all passengers and participants in the organization of the transport process.

A specific, but not limiting, embodiment of the system structure is shown in the drawing (Fig. 1), which shows: a telematics platform with server equipment and a database - 1; passenger identifier in the form of a mobile device with a Bluetooth module and a mobile application - 2; identifier of the stopping point in the form of an iBeacon lighthouse - 3; vehicle identifier in the form of an iBeacon lighthouse - 4; controller mobile device - 5; web-portal - 6, with which users of the system interact - 7. All elements of the system interact with each other through GPRS-channels of cellular communication and the Internet.

The telematics platform servers have a database for storing and processing information, modules for generating information about carriers, rolling stock, stopping points, route network, fares, passenger identifiers, stopping station identifiers, vehicle identifiers, exchanging data with the passenger’s mobile application, processing marks of passengers ’entry-exit, calculation of travel distance and cost, settlement of settlements between customers and transport workers, reporting, maintaining personal accounts of system users, etc.

The system operates as follows. Users - 7 (transport enterprises, social welfare agencies, passengers) are registered in the system and enter their personal dashboards through the web portal - 6. Transport enterprises enter data on their enterprises, rolling stock and their identifiers, stopping points and their identifiers , routes, fares, etc., have their own virtual account. Passengers enter their identifier (EMEI of their cell phone), information about themselves and start a virtual account. For passengers of privileged categories, a social card number is attached to this account (this operation is performed by the social protection authorities). The passenger downloads a mobile application (program) to his mobile device, which, when launched, activates the Bluetooth module of the mobile device and exchanges data with the telematics platform.

Next, the passenger makes an advance payment for future trips to the bank. This operation is carried out either through an ATM or via the Internet through any plastic card. The money is deposited into the physical account of the bank and transferred to the virtual account of the telematic platform. In this case, the telematics platform, being a client of the bank, is an online store that did not sell goods to a passenger, but reserved a service. In the future, the passenger transport company will provide the service for the carriage of passengers on behalf of the owner of the telematics platform. At the next stage, the passenger will use the reserved service, that is, make trips.

The fixation of passenger trips on buses and other ground transport is carried out in the following way. Arriving at the stop, the passenger activates the mobile application on his mobile device - 2. The mobile application activates the Bluetooth module, scans the surrounding area and determines the identifier of the stop (unique code for the ffleacon beacon of the stop is 3). Next, the passenger selects the stopping point where he plans to make a trip through the interface of his mobile application. Data on the passenger, entry and exit stops are transmitted to the telematics platform - 1. On the telematics platform - 1, the optimal route is formed, the cost of the trip is determined, and the availability of funds on the passenger’s virtual account is checked. Information about the route and the cost of the trip is transmitted from the telematics platform - 1 to the passenger’s mobile application - 2. If the passenger agrees with the conditions of the trip, then he confirms the intention to make this trip through the mobile application interface. At the time of arrival of the vehicle of the desired route, the passenger lands in it. In the process of movement, the passenger mobile application - 2 determines the identifier of the vehicle on which he makes the trip (the unique code of the vehicle’s iBeacon beacon is 4). In the process of movement between stopping points, a control scan of the vehicle’s interior is made and the identifier of the vehicle on which the trip is made is specified. Thus, the passenger on the screen of his mobile application has an electronic ticket confirming that he has been recognized, and the fare for this vehicle will be deducted from his server account. This information confirms the legality of his trip to the audit service. Upon arrival at the stop, the passenger leaves the passenger compartment. At the same time, the mobile application records the fact of the loss of the vehicle identifier and the fact of the appearance of the identifier of the final stop point. Thus, in the process of movement, a trip log was generated in the mobile application, which recorded: date, time, and identifiers of the passenger, stopping entry, stopping exit, vehicle.

At the end of the trip, the passenger mobile application - 2 communicates with the telematics platform - 1 and transmits there data on the actually completed passenger trip. On the telematics platform - 1, it is recorded how many trips each passenger made, for what amount, on which vehicle, which carrier, a mutual settlement table is formed. This information according to the regulations goes to a bank that has already made physical settlements: transfers money from personal accounts of passengers to accounts of carriers (for paid passengers), transfers money from accounts of social protection authorities to accounts of carriers (for privileged passengers).

To control trips, the controller’s mobile device is used - 5. The controller, entering the vehicle’s interior, activates his mobile device and enters the identifier of the vehicle being checked (state or garage number). The controller’s mobile device - 5 communicates with the telematics platform - 1 and receives a list of passenger identifiers that are registered in the system and are currently in the vehicle. In fact, these are electronic copies of their tickets. Further, the controller can go through the cabin and check with passengers the presence of identification devices with copies of these electronic tickets.

Monitoring the movement of passengers on electric trains is carried out in the following way. Arriving at the departure station, the passenger activates the mobile application on his mobile device - 2. The mobile application activates the Bluetooth module, scans the surrounding area and determines the identifier of the departure station (unique code of the departure station's iBeacon beacon is 3). Next, the passenger, through the interface of his mobile application, selects the destination station where he plans to travel. Data on the passenger, entry and exit stations are transmitted to the telematics platform - 1. On the telematics platform - 1, the optimal route is formed, the cost of the trip is determined, and the availability of funds on the passenger’s virtual account is checked. Information about the route and the cost of the trip is transmitted from the telematics platform - 1 to the passenger’s mobile application - 2. If the passenger agrees with the conditions of the trip, then he confirms the intention to make the trip via the mobile application interface, after which a bar code or QR code is transmitted to the mobile device electronic ticket to pass through the turnstile. Then the passenger moves to the apron through the turnstile (if the station is equipped with turnstiles) using a mobile copy of the electronic ticket, or freely passes to the apron (if the station is not equipped with turnstiles).

At the time of arrival of the train in the right direction, the passenger lands in the car. In the process of movement, the passenger mobile application - 2 determines the identifier of the vehicle (car) on which he makes the trip (unique code iBeacon of the car’s beacon - 4). In the process of movement between stopping points, a control scan of the car’s cabin and clarification of the identifier of the vehicle on which the trip is made are made. During the trip, an electronic ticket will be displayed on the passenger’s mobile application screen - confirmation that it has been recognized by the system, and the fare for this vehicle will be deducted from its server account. This information confirms the legality of his trip to the audit service. Upon arrival at the station, the passenger leaves the car. At the same time, the mobile application records the fact of loss of the vehicle identifier and the fact of the appearance of the identifier of the destination station. Thus, in the process of movement, a trip log was generated in the mobile application, in which the date, time, and identifiers of the passenger, entry station, exit station, vehicle were recorded. If the arrival station is equipped with turnstiles, then the passenger passes through the turnstile using a mobile copy of the electronic ticket.

At the end of the trip, the passenger mobile application - 2 communicates with the telematics platform - 1 and transmits there data on the actually completed passenger trip. On the telematics platform - 1, it is recorded how many trips each passenger made, for what amount, on which vehicle, which carrier, a mutual settlement table is formed. This information according to the regulations goes to a bank that has already made physical settlements: transfers money from personal accounts of passengers to accounts of carriers (for paid passengers), transfers money from accounts of social protection authorities to accounts of carriers (for privileged passengers).

To control trips, the controller’s mobile device is used - 5. The controller, entering the car, activates his mobile device and enters the identifier of the vehicle being checked. The controller’s mobile device - 5 communicates with the telematics platform - 1 and receives a list of passenger identifiers that are registered in the system and are currently in the vehicle. In fact, these are electronic copies of their tickets. Further, the controller can go through the cabin and check with passengers the presence of identification devices with copies of these electronic tickets.

When implementing the proposed payment system, the costs of deployment and operation of the proposed transport payment system are significantly reduced due to:

- reducing the cost of airborne equipment;

- no need to issue plastic transport cards;

- no need to deploy a sales network and replenish transport cards;

- the absence of the need for collection of cash proceeds.

The time for passengers to board the vehicle is reduced, as passengers do not delay the incoming flow, interacting with a stationary validator, traditionally standing at the entrance to the bus. The convenience and comfort of a passenger’s trip is increased, since he can pay from anywhere in the vehicle’s interior by simply activating the application on his mobile device. Transport companies have the opportunity to receive unique information about passenger traffic correspondence (statistics of passenger entry and exit). It is necessary to optimize the timetable, which helps to reduce the cost of transportation and more complete satisfaction of passengers in transport services. To date, none of the existing transport payment systems or passenger flow accounting systems has the ability to collect such information (they only record the passenger’s entry point).

It is possible to pay for any type of discounted tickets (schoolchildren, students, veterans, pensioners, social cards, etc.), because the parameters of documents confirming the privilege are tied to the individual passenger ID at the level of the telematic platform. Parameters of privileges are used in calculating the cost of the trip individually for each passenger, and is transmitted to the controller who controls the payment of fares. The owner of the social card, go to another passenger connected to this system, there is no need to squeeze to the payment terminal or to the validator through the crowded salon, he can easily enter the vehicle, take any free place, activate the application of his mobile device. The trip payment process will be carried out automatically.

This payment system can be put into operation in conjunction with any existing payment system based on plastic transport and bank cards. In addition, the vehicle’s iBeacon beacon can be mounted in the cabin validator or cash register (conductor, driver). In this case, payment for travel is possible in any way known today (for cash, a plastic transport card, a bank card, a social card, a passenger’s mobile application).

Claims (1)

A public transport fare payment system using Bluetooth technology and iBeacon beacons, including a telematics platform configured to create users' personal dashboards via a web portal, with the possibility of generating information about rolling stock, stopping points, route network parameters, various types of electronic tickets and their cost (tariffs, including preferential ones), with the possibility of receiving, processing and storing data from passengers 'mobile applications on the passengers' inputs and outputs for transport funds with reference to stopping points, with the possibility of analyzing this data and calculating the distance and cost of the trip of each passenger, with the possibility of creating tables of mutual settlements between suppliers and consumers of transport services, passenger identifiers in the form of mobile devices with a mobile application configured to scan the stopping area point, vehicle interior, read and fix unique marks of stopping points and vehicles, communicate and exchange data with the telematics platform via the GPRS cellular communication channel, with the ability to create a travel journal and, according to the rules, transmit information about trips to the telematics platform, with the ability to display an electronic version of the ticket to provide it to the controller as confirmation of the fact of payment for the trip, stop point identifiers made in the form iBeacon beacons, with the possibility of exchanging data with the passengers' mobile application, vehicle identifiers made in the form of iBeacon beacons, with the ability to exchange data with the mobile application of passengers, mobile devices of controllers made in the form of mobile devices with the ability to communicate with the telematics platform via the GPRS channel of cellular communication, with the possibility of receiving from the telematics platform a list of identification marks of passengers in the vehicle’s cabin and registered in the payment system, web-portal, made in the form of a web-application, deployed on a telematic platform, with the ability to interact with users of the system and reg Update their private offices, with the ability to upload to a web-based portal through a private office with all the information necessary for the functioning of the transport payment system, with the possibility of getting a web-portal through the private offices all reporting information.

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