Method and system for wireless payment of public transport fare

• US 10,249,013 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Nova Technologies Holding Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Yang, Wenxue
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Kevin H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Manejwala, Ismail A
• Application Number:
  US15/005,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a method and system for wireless payment of transport fare. During operation, the system receives a request at a server from a mobile device for information of a payee'"'"'s account, which is associated with a public transport and corresponds to a wireless network identifier of a wireless network located on the public transport. The server may determine information of the payee'"'"'s account corresponding to the wireless network identifier. The server then sends the payee'"'"'s account information to the mobile device. The system may then receive, from the mobile device, a payment order to make a payment to the payee'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for wireless payment, comprising:

mapping, by a server in a database, an account of a payee to a wireless identifier of a wireless network located on a public transport, wherein the payee'"'"'s account is associated with the public transport;

receiving, by the server from a mobile device of a user, a request for account information of the payee, wherein the mobile device obtains the wireless network identifier by connecting to the wireless network located on the public transport, wherein the request includes the wireless network identifier, and wherein the user is one of a plurality of passengers on the public transport;

performing, by the server, a lookup in the database for the account information of the payee based on the wireless network identifier included in the request;

sending, by the server, the account information of the payee to the mobile device;

receiving, by the server, data from a plurality of sensors located on or near an entrance of the public transport;

analyzing the data received from the sensors to determine a number of passengers currently on board the public transport, wherein the number of passengers includes the user;

receiving a start signal for calculating transport fares to be paid by the number of passengers;

calculating a first sum of total transport fares due during a predetermined time period since receiving the start signal;

receiving, from the mobile device via the wireless network, a payment order to make a fare payment to the payee'"'"'s account;

receiving a second sum of total transport fares paid, wherein the second sum includes a transport fare paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on the payment order received from the mobile device, and wherein the second sum further includes transport fares paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on payment orders received from mobile devices associated with the passengers; and

in response to determining that the first sum is not equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated first sum is incorrect based on the number of passengers;

sending a payment reminder to the passengers; and

re-calculating the first sum of the total transport fares due;

thereby allowing a user or passenger to pay a fare for the public transport using his respective mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the first sum is equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated first sum is correct; and

terminating review of transport fares.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more images of the passengers from a camera installed on the public transport; and

applying an optical flow field technique to the one or more images to determine the number of passengers on the public transport.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of passengers who have paid fare for the public transport;

determining if the number of passengers who have paid the transport fare is equal to the number of passengers currently on board the public transport; and

responsive to determining that the number of passengers who have paid the transport fare is not equal to the number of passengers currently on board the public transport, sending a reminder to the passengers to make payment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes one or more of:

a sensor installed near the entrance of the public transport;

two or more infrared sensors located near the entrance of the public transport;

or

a pressure sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying the number of passengers on board the public transport using an image recognition technology based on images captured by cameras on or near the entrance of the public transport.

7. A computing system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors storing instructions stored that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a method for wireless payment, the method comprising;

mapping, by a server in a database, an account of a payee to a wireless identifier of a wireless network located on a public transport, wherein the payee'"'"'s account is associated with the public transport;

receiving, by the server from a mobile device of a user, a request for account information of the payee, wherein the mobile device obtains the wireless network identifier by connecting to the wireless network located on the public transport, wherein the request includes the wireless network identifier, and wherein the user is one of a plurality of passengers on the public transport;

performing, by the server, a lookup in the database for the account information of the payee based on the wireless network identifier included in the request;

sending, by the server, the account information of the payee to the mobile device;

receiving, by the server, data from a plurality of sensors located on or near an entrance of the public transport;

analyzing the data received from the sensors to determine a number of passengers currently on board the public transport, wherein the number of passengers includes the user;

receiving a start signal for calculating transport fares to be paid by the number of passengers;

calculating a first sum of total transport fares due during a predetermined time period since receiving the start signal;

receiving, from the mobile device via the wireless network, a payment order to make a fare payment to the payee'"'"'s account;

receiving a second sum of total transport fares paid, wherein the second sum includes a transport fare paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on the payment order received from the mobile device, and wherein the second sum further includes transport fares paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on payment orders received from mobile devices associated with the passengers; and

in response to determining that the first sum is not equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated first sum is incorrect based on the number of passengers;

sending a payment reminder to the passengers; and

re-calculating the first sum of the total transport fares due;

thereby allowing a user or passenger to pay a fare for the public transport using his respective mobile device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to determining that the first sum is equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated fist sum is correct; and

terminating review of transport fares.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving one or more images of the passengers from a camera installed on the public transport; and

applying an optical flow field technique to the one or more images to determine the number of passengers on the public transport.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a number of passengers who have paid fare for the public transport;

determining if the number of passengers who have paid the transport fare is equal to the number of passengers currently on board the public transport; and

responsive to determining that the number of passengers who have paid the transport fare is not equal to the number of passengers currently on board the public transport, sending a reminder to the passengers to make payment.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of sensors includes one or more of:

a sensor installed near the entrance of the public transport;

two or more infrared sensors located near the entrance of the public transport;

or

a pressure sensor.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

verifying the number of passengers on board the public transport using an image recognition technology based on images captured by cameras on or near the entrance of the public transport.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for wireless payment, the method comprising:

mapping, by a server in a database, an account of a payee to a wireless identifier of a wireless network located on a public transport, wherein the payee'"'"'s account is associated with the public transport;

receiving, by the server from a mobile device of a user, a request for account information of the payee, wherein the mobile device obtains the wireless network identifier by connecting to the wireless network located on the public transport, wherein the request includes the wireless network identifier, and wherein the user is one of a plurality of passengers on the public transport;

performing, by the server, a lookup in the database for the account information of the payee based on the wireless network identifier included in the request;

sending, by the server, the account information of the payee to the mobile device;

receiving, by the server, data from a plurality of sensors located on or near an entrance of the public transport;

analyzing the data received from the sensors to determine a number of passengers currently on board the public transport, wherein the number of passengers includes the user;

receiving a start signal for calculating transport fares to be paid by the number of passengers;

calculating a first sum of total transport fares due during a predetermined time period since receiving the start signal;

receiving, from the mobile device via the wireless network, a payment order to make a fare payment to the payee'"'"'s account;

receiving a second sum of total transport fares paid, wherein the second sum includes a transport fare paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on the payment order received from the mobile device, and wherein the second sum further includes transport fares paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on payment orders received from mobile devices associated with the passengers; and

in response to determining that the first sum is not equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated first sum is incorrect based on the number of passengers;

sending a payment reminder to the passengers; and

re-calculating the first sum of the total transport fares due;

thereby allowing a user or passenger to pay a fare for the public transport using his respective mobile device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to determining that the first sum is equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated first sum is correct; and

terminating review of transport fares.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving one or more images of the passengers from a camera installed on the public transport; and

applying an optical flow field technique to the one or more images to determine the number of passengers on the public transport.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a number of passengers who have paid the transport fare for the public transport;

determining if the number of passengers who have paid the transport fare is equal to the number of passengers currently on board the public transport; and

responsive to determining that the number of passengers who have paid the transport fare is not equal to the number of passengers currently on board the public transport, sending a reminder to the passengers to make payment.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensors includes one or more of:

a sensor installed near the entrance of the public transport;

two or more infrared sensors located near the entrance of the public transport;

or

a pressure sensor.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

verifying the number of passengers on board the public transport using an image recognition technology based on images captured by cameras on or near the entrance of the public transport.

19. At least two non-transitory computer-readable media coupled to one or more processors storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a computing system to perform a method for paying transport fare, the method comprising:

detecting, by a mobile device of a user, a wireless network located on a public transport;

establishing, by the mobile device, a connection with the wireless network;

acquiring, by the mobile device, a wireless network identifier from the wireless network;

sending, by the mobile device, the wireless network identifier to a server over the wireless network, wherein the wireless network identifier is previously mapped by the server to an account of a payee, wherein the user is the payee; and

in response to a request by the mobile device for account information of the payee;

sending, by the server, the account information of the payee to the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device from the server, the account information of the payee, including information regarding a payment account associated with the public transport, wherein the payment account is further associated with the wireless network identifier;

receiving, by the server, data from a plurality of sensors located on or near an entrance of the public transport;

analyzing, by the server, the data received from the sensors to determine a number of passengers currently on board the public transport, wherein the number of passengers includes the user;

receiving, by the server, a start signal for calculating transport fares to be paid by the number of passengers;

calculating, by the server, a first sum of total transport fares due during a predetermined time period since receiving the start signal;

receiving, by the server from the mobile device via the wireless network, a payment order to make a fare payment to the payee'"'"'s account;

receiving, by the server, a second sum of total transport fares paid, wherein the second sum includes a transport fare paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on the payment order received from the mobile device, and wherein the second sum further includes transport fares paid to the payee'"'"'s account based on payment orders received from mobile devices associated with the passengers; and

in response to determining, by the server, that the first sum is not equal to the second sum;

determining that the calculated first sum is incorrect based on the number of passengers;

sending a payment reminder to the passengers; and

re-calculating the first sum of the total transport fares due;

thereby allowing a user to pay a fare for the public transport via the wireless network.