RFID for fare collection

• US 10,282,920 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Inventors: Busch-Sorensen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Joseph, Tonya
• Application Number:
  US15/184,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20160371893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

Systems and methods for RFID fare collection for improving passenger throughput and security in transit systems. RFID tags identify passengers at a distance and allow a hands-free experience for transit users. The system includes gate cabinets and/or other entry points that define a passageway and separate a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area, at least one RFID transmitter positioned on the entry points, at least one RFID receiver positioned on the entry points, and a processor coupled with the RFID receiver. The system detects the presence of the RFID tag within the passageway and detects information linking to the account balance of the user. The system determines whether transit users are entering or exiting the restricted access area based on analysis of the wireless signals received by the RFID receivers, and provides an alarm signal when a transit user is not permitted to access the restricted access area.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one entry point that defines a passageway and separates a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area;

at least one RFID transmitter positioned on or within a threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID transmitter being configured to transmit wireless signals to an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is operable to be carried by a user when the user enters or exits the restricted access area through the passageway, the RFID tag having information linking to an account balance of the user;

at least one RFID receiver positioned on or within the threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID receiver being configured to receive wireless signals from the RFID tag, wherein wireless signals received by the at least one RFID receiver from the RFID tag are indicative of the information linking to the account balance of the user, the at least one RFID receiver including a first RFID receiver and a second RFID receiver; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the at least one RFID receiver, the processor being configured to perform operations including;

detecting the presence of the RFID tag within the passageway;

detecting the information linking to the account balance of the user based on the wireless signals received by the at least one RFID receiver from the RFID tag;

detecting receipt, by the first RFID receiver, of a first received wireless signal having a first frequency at a first instant in time;

detecting receipt, by the second RFID receiver, of a second received wireless signal having a second frequency at the first instant in time; and

determining whether the first frequency is greater than or less than the second frequency to determine whether the user is entering or exiting the restricted access area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations including:

accessing the account balance of the user to determine whether the user is permitted to access the restricted access area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations including:

initiating an alarm signal when the user is not permitted to access the restricted access area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is passive.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one RFID transceiver positioned on or within the threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID transceiver including the at least one RFID transmitter and the at least one RFID receiver such that the at least one RFID transmitter is integrated with the at least one RFID receiver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is integrated with the at least one RFID receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a UHF tag, the at least one RFID transmitter is a UHF transmitter, and the at least one RFID receiver is a UHF receiver.

8. A system comprising:

at least one entry point that defines a passageway and separates a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area;

an RFID tag operable to be carried by a user when the user enters or exits the restricted access area through the passageway, the RFID tag having information linking to an account balance of the user;

at least one RFID transmitter positioned on or within a threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID transmitter being configured to transmit wireless signals to the RFID tag;

at least one RFID receiver positioned on or within the threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID receiver being configured to receive wireless signals from the RFID tag, wherein wireless signals received by the at least one RFID receiver from the RFID tag are indicative of the information linking to the account balance of the user, the at least one RFID receiver including a first RFID receiver and a second RFID receiver; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the at least one RFID receiver, the processor being configured to perform operations including;

detecting the presence of the RFID tag within the passageway;

detecting the information linking to the account balance of the user based on the wireless signals received by the at least one RFID receiver from the RFID tag;

detecting receipt, by the first RFID receiver, of a first received wireless signal having a first frequency at a first instant in time;

detecting receipt, by the second RFID receiver, of a second received wireless signal having a second frequency at the first instant in time; and

determining whether the first frequency is greater than or less than the second frequency to determine whether the user is entering or exiting the restricted access area.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations including:

accessing the account balance of the user to determine whether the user is permitted to access the restricted access area.

10. A method comprising:

for a system comprising;

at least one entry point that defines a passageway and separates a non-restricted access area from a restricted access area;

at least one RFID transmitter positioned on or within a threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID transmitter being configured to transmit wireless signals to an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is operable to be carried by a user when the user enters or exits the restricted access area through the passageway, the RFID tag having information linking to an account balance of the user;

at least one RFID receiver positioned on or within the threshold distance of the at least one entry point, the at least one RFID receiver being configured to receive wireless signals from the RFID tag, wherein wireless signals received by the at least one RFID receiver from the RFID tag are indicative of the information linking to the account balance of the user, the at least one RFID receiver including a first RFID receiver and a second RFID receiver;

detecting the presence of the RFID tag within the passageway;

detecting the information linking to the account balance of the user based on the wireless signals received by the at least one RFID receiver from the RFID tag;

detecting receipt, by the first RFID receiver, of a first received wireless signal having a first frequency at a first instant in time;

detecting receipt, by the second RFID receiver, of a second received wireless signal having a second frequency at the first instant in time; and

determining whether the first frequency is greater than or less than the second frequency to determine whether the user is entering or exiting the restricted access area.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

accessing the account balance of the user to determine whether the user is permitted to access the restricted access area.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating an alarm signal when the user is not permitted to access the restricted access area.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is passive.