Communication system

• US 20020049054A1
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Connexionz Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Knack Investments Limited
• Inventors: OʼConnor, Michael, Thompson, Aubrey
• Granted Patent: US 6,803,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A host system (2) receives uploaded real time bus progress data (20) for bus systems (13). This is determined by the bus system (13) detecting a beacon short range radiation signal from a bus stop systems (11). Uploads are only made if the bus is not running according to the timetable. The host system (2) downloads bus status data (21) for remaining stops (12) on the route. The host system (2) also downloads advertising content to both the bus stop systems (11) and the bus systems (13). This is intelligently processed to select that which is applicable.

Claims

1. A communication system for public transport vehicles, the system comprising:

a host system (2) comprising means for receiving real time vehicle progress data to wirelessly transmit vehicle status data;

vehicle systems (13) for vehicles and comprising means for communication with the host system;

vehicle stop systems (11) for location at each of a plurality of vehicle stops (12) along vehicle routes;

means in the vehicle stop systems (11) or in the vehicle systems (13) for determining and uploading the real time vehicle progress data to the host system (2), characterised in that

the host system (2) comprises means for downloading advertising content, and the vehicle stop systems (11) and the vehicle systems (13) comprise means for receiving and outputting advertising content.

2. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the real time vehicle status data is exception data uploaded only when a vehicle is not adhering to a timetable for a route.

3. A communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each vehicle stop system (11) or each vehicle system (13) comprises means for storing and processing route data to determine when an exception occurs.

4. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each vehicle stop system (11) comprises means for emitting short range beacon signals, and each vehicle system (13) comprises means (40) for detecting such signals and processing them to determine the real time vehicle progress data.

5. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each vehicle system (13) comprises means for uploading the real time vehicle progress data.

6. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2), the vehicle stop systems (11), and the vehicle systems (13) comprise means for communicating via a wide area wireless network (10).

7. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for performing group call broadcasting to group family members.

8. A communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said broadcasting means comprises means for embedding qualifiers in messages to allow recipients to ignore selected received messages.

9. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for downloading software updates in an over-the-air programming mode.

10. A communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for maintaining a configuration file indicating version and validation of stored software, and means for updating the configuration file after a download.

11. A communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each vehicle stop system (11) and each vehicle system (13) comprises means for uploading an indication to the host system (2) if operating in a fallback mode, and the host system (2) comprises means for downloading a software update in response.

12. A communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for using a software update instruction set including change directory, process termination, process run, file copy, file rename, and file delete instructions.

13. A communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the host system comprises means for polling the vehicle systems (13) and the vehicle stop systems (11) to determine if they are in fallback mode.

14. A communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said software update instruction set comprises short symbols representing said instructions, for reliability of remote transmission of instructions.

15. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises a message controller and a database, and the message controller comprises means for maintaining execution threads for:

monitoring a dataset of outbound messages awaiting download, and

monitoring a dataset of inbound messages.

16. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for broadcasting the advertising content, and each vehicle stop system (11) and each vehicle system (13) comprises means for selecting from received content according to advertising criteria including route data.

17. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for broadcasting advertising content during off-peak time periods.

18. A communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for broadcasting advertising content at least twice to increase probability of success.

19. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for associating a unique code to each of a plurality of advertisements, and for associating a null code when an advertisement is discontinued.

20. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host system (2) comprises means for predicting arrival times based on both the real time vehicle progress data and a vector having a start time and intervals to stops in route time units.

21. A communication system for public transport vehicles, the system comprising:

a host system (2) comprising means for receiving real time vehicle progress data to wirelessly transmit vehicle status data;

vehicle systems (13) for vehicles and comprising means for communication with the host system;

vehicle stop systems (11) for location at each of a plurality of vehicle stops (12) along vehicle routes;

means in the vehicle stop systems (11) or in the vehicle systems (13) for determining and uploading the real time vehicle progress data to the host system (2), characterised in that

the host system (2) comprises means for downloading advertising content, and the vehicle stop systems (11) and the vehicle systems (13) comprise means for receiving and outputting advertising content;

wherein the host system (2) comprises means for broadcasting the advertising content, and each vehicle stop system (11) and each vehicle system (13) comprises means for selecting from received content according to advertising criteria including route data;

wherein the host system (2) comprises means for broadcasting advertising content during off-peak time periods; and

wherein the host system (2) comprises means for associating a unique code to each of a plurality of advertisements, and for associating a null code when an advertisement is discontinued.