WO2010148425A1

WO2010148425A1 - A ticketing system

Info

Publication number: WO2010148425A1
Application number: PCT/AU2010/000746
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pit-Kin Loh
Original assignee: Lim, Corene
Priority date: 2009-06-26
Filing date: 2010-06-16
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: TW201106298A

Abstract

A ticketing system (10) for a transport system is disclosed. The transport system includes modes of transport such as buses, ferries and/or trains, and the system (10) is disposable on a mode of transport. The ticketing system (10) is arranged to cooperate with a plurality of smart cards (26), each smart card being arranged to store data indicative of a monetary amount. The system comprises means for receiving electrical power from the mode of transport, means (20) for receiving and storing money, and a smart card reader (24) arranged to read smart cards (26), to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card (26), and to increase the monetary amount associated with the smart card (26) when money is received by the ticketing system (10) from the holder of the smart card.

Description

A TICKETING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ticketing system.

Background of the Invention

It is known to provide a ticketing system for a transport system including buses, ferries and/or trains which is essentially electronic in that users of the transport system obtain a smart card which is usable to purchase electronic tickets. In a typical system, monetary value is added to the smart cards using a dedicated device at one or more stations, and monetary amounts are deducted from the monetary value on the smart cards using a detection device disposed on the bus, ferry or train.

However, while this system works well when users of the transport system possess a suitable smart card with sufficient available credit, operation of the system is significantly impacted by users who do not have such a smart card since it is necessary for bus, ferry or train drivers to manually process ticket payments and dispense tickets. Such a manual system is also prone to abuse since it requires human handling of cash.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ticketing system for a transport system including buses, ferries and/or trains, the system being disposable on a mode of transport, and being arranged to cooperate with a plurality of smart cards, each smart card being arranged to store data indicative of a monetary amount, the system comprising: means for receiving electrical power from the mode of transport ; means for receiving and storing money; and a smart card reader arranged to read smart cards and to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card, and to increase the monetary amount associated with the smart card when money is received by the ticketing system from the holder of the smart card.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mode of transport comprising a ticketing system according to the first aspect of the present invention.

In one arrangement, the mode of transport is a bus, train or ferry.

In one embodiment, the ticketing system comprises a cash box arranged to hold money received from a user, and electronic locking means arranged to prevent access to the cash box until an unlocking code is received.

In one embodiment, the ticketing system is arranged to store smart cards and to dispense smart cards to a user on request when sufficient money is received at the ticketing system from the user.

In one arrangement, the smart cards for dispensation are disposed in the cash box.

In an alternative arrangement, the smart cards for dispensation are stored in a smart card dispenser separately disposed relative to the cash box.

In one embodiment, the smart card reader is arranged to wirelessly read a smart card when the smart card is disposed adjacent the smart card reader. The ticketing system may further comprise a communications device arranged to facilitate transfer of data from the ticketing system to a backend system. The data may be transactional data indicative of monetary amounts added to and subtracted from smart cards and/or journey data indicative of journeys travelled by customers.

In one embodiment, the ticketing system comprises a receipt printer, and the system is arranged to print a ticket for a desired journey when sufficient funds to cover the journey are received at the ticketing system from a user.

The system may be arranged to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card at the start of the j ourney.

Alternatively, the system may be arranged to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card at the end of the journey based on the location of the start of the journey and the location of the end of the journey.

The journey may be determined by the system by disposing the smart card adjacent the smart card reader both at the start and at the end of the journey.

In one embodiment, the ticketing system comprises a GPS device, wherein the start and end locations of a journey are determined using the GPS device.

In one embodiment, the ticketing system comprises a camera arranged to capture still and/or video images.

The camera may be arranged to capture still and/or video images of a customer at the start and end locations of a journey undertaken by the customer.

In one embodiment, at least two ticketing systems are disposed during use on a mode of transport. The at least two ticketing systems may be disposed in one cabinet.

The ticketing system may comprise a backup power supply which is arranged to supply power to the ticketing system should power from the mode of transport fail. The backup power supply may be charged using power from the mode of transport .

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a ticketing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the ticketing system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic front view of the ticketing system shown in Figures 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the ticketing system shown in Figures 1 to 3 ;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of operative components of the ticketing system shown in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the ticketing system shown in Figure 1 with a cashbox of the ticketing system shown in a partially removed position.

Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a ticketing system 10 configured so as to be disposable on a bus, ferry or train, or any other form of transport in a transport system. The ticketing system 10 comprises a cabinet 11 shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 6 which houses operative components of the ticketing system 10 shown in Figure 5.

The ticketing system 10 forms part of an automated transport ticketing system comprising a plurality of ticketing systems 10 disposed on respective buses, ferries and/or trains of the transport system, and disposed at fixed locations such as at stations associated with the transport system. Passengers on the transport system are able to use smart cards to buy electronic tickets, each smart card storing data indicative of monetary amounts and the monetary amount being automatically debited as tickets are purchased.

Referring to Figure 5, the system 10 comprises a processor 12 for controlling and coordinating operations in the ticketing system 10, and a money acceptor 14 arranged, in this example, to receive money in the form of cash notes, the money acceptor 14 including a note acceptor slot 16 disposed on an upper panel of the cabinet 11.

The ticketing system 10 also includes a cash box 18 having a cash holder 20, in this example arranged to hold cash notes received through the note acceptor slot 16 and transferred to the cash holder by the money acceptor 14, and a smart card dispenser 22 arranged to dispense smart cards to a customer through a card dispensing slot 42 when sufficient money has been introduced into the ticketing system 10 through the note acceptor slot 16 and the customer has requested a new smart card by pressing a buy card button 40.

While the smart card dispenser 22 in the present embodiment is disposed in the cash box 18, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, the smart card dispenser 22 may be housed separately to the cash box 18. This arrangement may be used in situations wherein it is not necessary to frequently replenish the smart card dispenser 22, and has the added advantage that the capacity of the cash holder 20 is increased.

The ticketing system 10 also includes a smart card reader 24 which in association with the processor 12 is arranged to read smart cards 26 disposed in close proximity to the smart card reader 24 in order to determine whether sufficient funds are available for a journey on the transport system proposed to be undertaken by a customer associated with the smart card 26, and to deduct a monetary amount corresponding to the journey from a monetary total stored on the smart card 26.

In this example, the ticketing system also includes a receipt printer 28 disposed in the cash box 18 which in association with the processor 12 is arranged to print paper tickets, for example as a backup should the smart card based system fail, or for a casual customer intending to take only a limited number of journeys. The receipt printer 28 may also be used to dispense receipts for money received by the ticketing system 10.

The present ticketing system 10 also includes a customer display 30 disposed on an upper panel of the cabinet 11 so as to be easily viewable by a customer, a data storage device 32 and a memory 34. In this example, the data storage device 32 is arranged to store programs and/or data used by the processor 12 to control operation of the ticketing system 10, with the memory 34 being used to load programs used by the processor 12 during operation. The data storage device 32 is also arranged in this example to store transaction data indicative of transactions carried out with customers, in particular transactions relating to issuing, crediting and debiting smart cards 26 and/or journey data indicative of journeys travelled by customers.

The ticketing system 10 also includes a communications device 36 arranged to facilitate transfer of data, such as smart card transactional data automatically from the data storage device 32 to a back end system, for example disposed at a transport depot. The communications device 36 may be of short range type such that communications occur between the ticketing system 10 and the back end system when the ticketing system 10 is disposed in close proximity to the back end system, or alternatively the communications device 36 may be of long range type, such as of GSM type, so that communications between the ticketing system 10 and the back end system may occur at any time .

In this example, the ticketing system 10 also includes an electronic lock 38 which is arranged to lock the cash box 18 so that access is prevented until a predefined unlocking signal is received either through the communications device 36 or through a dedicated unlocking connector disposed on the cashbox 18. For example, the back end system may be arranged to generate an unlocking signal in response to operator action, and when the unlocking signal is received at the ticketing system 10 the electronic lock 38 releases a mechanical lock and thereby allows the cashbox 18 to be removed from the cabinet 11, as shown in Figure 6.

The ticketing system 10 also includes a driver display 50 which provides the driver with operational information, and one or more driver control buttons 52 which may be used by the driver to control ticketing system function. During use, the ticketing system 10 is disposed on a mode of transport such as a bus, ferry or train, with the ticketing system receiving power from the electrical system 60 of the bus, ferry or train. The ticketing system may also include a separate backup power supply system 62 including one or more batteries to protect against voltage irregularity or power interruption. With this arrangement, the separate power supply system would be automatically recharged by the bus, ferry or train power system during normal use .

When a customer boards the bus, ferry or train without a smart card 26 and the customer wishes to embark on a journey, the customer introduces sufficient money into the note acceptor slot 16 and presses the buy card button 40. The money acceptor 14 under control of the processor 12 then directs the introduced money to the cash holder 20 for storage and the smart card dispenser 22 under control of the processor 12 dispenses a new smart card 26 through the card dispensing slot 42. In this example, new smart cards are provided with a default credit amount.

In order to purchase an electronic ticket, a customer in possession of a smart card disposes the smart card 26 adjacent the smart card reader 24 which causes the smart card reader 24 to read data stored on the smart card 26 indicative of an available credit amount. If sufficient credit is available on the smart card 26, an amount corresponding to the proposed journey is deducted from the smart card .

If insufficient funds are available on the smart card 26 for the proposed journey, a customer may introduce money into the note acceptor slot 16 which then causes the smart card reader 24 to modify the credit amount data stored on the smart card 26 in order to add an amount corresponding to the introduced money to the credit available on the smart card 26.

While the above example is described in relation to a system whereby a credit amount corresponding to a journey is debited from a smart card when a customer boards a bus, ferry or train, other arrangements are envisaged. For example, when a customer boards a bus, ferry or train and disposes a smart card 26 adjacent a smart card reader 24, a commence journey identifier may be recorded on the smart card 26 and when the customer disembarks from the bus, ferry or train and similarly disposes the smart card 26 adjacent the smart card reader 24 the ticketing system 10 arranged to calculate a monetary amount corresponding to the journey undertaken based on the commence journey identifier and to deduct the calculated amount from the credit available on the smart card 26.

Other arrangements are also envisaged. For example, the ticketing system 10 may be provided with a GPS device 37 which cooperates with the processor 12 to identify start and finish positions of a journey, the processor 12 using this information to calculate an appropriate fare for the journey undertaken. A camera 39 may also be provided to capture images during operation of the system, for example of customers at the beginning and end of a journey. Such images may be used for validation and dispute resolution purposes .

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A ticketing system for a transport system including buses, ferries and/or trains, the system being disposable on a mode of transport, and being arranged to cooperate with a plurality of smart cards, each smart card being arranged to store data indicative of a monetary amount, the system comprising: means for receiving electrical power from the mode of transport; means for receiving and storing money; and a smart card reader arranged to read smart cards and to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card, and to increase the monetary amount associated with the smart card when money is received by the ticketing system from the holder of the smart card.

2. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cash box arranged to hold money received from a user, and electronic locking means arranged to prevent access to the cash box until an unlocking code is received.

3. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ticketing system is arranged to store smart cards and to dispense smart cards to a user on request when sufficient money is received at the ticketing system from the user.

4. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the smart cards for dispensation are disposed in the cash box.

5. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the smart cards for dispensation are stored in a smart card dispenser separately disposed relative to the cash box.

6. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smart card reader is arranged to wirelessly read a smart card when the smart card is disposed adjacent the smart card reader.

7. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a communications device arranged to facilitate transfer of data from the ticketing system to a backend system.

8. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the data is transactional data indicative of monetary amounts added to and subtracted from smart cards and/or journey data indicative of journeys travelled by customers.

9. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a printer.

10. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the printer is arranged to print a ticket for a desired journey when sufficient funds to cover the journey are received at the ticketing system from a user.

11. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the printer is arranged to print a receipt for money received at the ticketing system from a user.

12. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is arranged to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card at the start of the journey.

13. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the system is arranged to reduce the monetary amount associated with a smart card according to a journey undertaken by a holder of the smart card at the end of the journey based on the location of the start of the journey and the location of the end of the journey.

14. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the journey is determined by the system by disposing the smart card adjacent the smart card reader both at the start and at the end of the journey.

15. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, comprising a GPS device, wherein the start and end locations of a journey are determined using the GPS device .

16. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a camera arranged to capture still and/or video images.

17. A ticketing system as claimed in claimclβ, wherein the camera is arranged to capture still and/or video images of a customer at the start and end locations of a journey undertaken by the customer.

18. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two ticketing systems are disposed during use on a mode of transport.

19. A ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a backup power supply which is arranged to supply power to the ticketing system should power from the mode of transport fail.

20. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the backup power supply is charged using power from the mode of transport.

21. A mode of transport comprising a ticketing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

22. A ticketing system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the mode of transport is a bus, train or ferry.

23. A ticketing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.