Method for signaling a stop request at a request stop

• US 20050078014A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Klaus Rapf
• Original Assignee: Klaus Rapf
• Inventors: Rapf, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US10/501,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

The invention relates to a signalling method, in particular for signalling a stop request at a request stop (1) of a transport company route, preferably a bus transport company, whereby the request stop (1) is only approached if a passenger wishes to board or alight. According to said method: the stop request is entered via an operator control unit (18) and a first signal (7), containing the stop request and information concerning the identity of the request stop (1), is generated; said first signal (7) is transmitted by a send module to at least one central server (4); the central server (4) determines which bus (2) can reach the request stop (1) first for the desired time and the stop request is transmitted to said bus (2) by sending a second signal (8) to said bus (2), the driver being alerted to the signal via a signalling device.

Claims

1. Signaling method, in particular for signaling a stop request at a request stop (1) of a transport company route, preferably a bus transport company, with the request stop (1) only being approached if a passenger wishes to board or alight, characterized in that the stop request is entered via an operator unit (18) and a first signal (7) is generated which contains the stop request and information on the identity of the request stop (1), that said first signal (7) is transmitted by a send module (19) to at least one central server (4), that the central server (4) determines the bus (2) which is able to best approach the request stop (1) at the desired time and sends the stop request to the bus (2) in such a way that it sends to said bus a second signal (8) which is signalized to the bus driver via a signaling device (40).

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of the first and/or second signal occurs through a mobile radiotelephony protocol, especially via GSM or GPRS or UMTS.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the stop request is entered via an operator unit (18) integrated in the request stop (1).

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the bus (2) by the central server (4) occurs automatically.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the central server (4) determines the bus (2) from the position of the request stop (1) and the timetable data, such that it is checked which bus (2) could approach the request stop (1) best at the desired time according to the timetable.

6. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the central server (4) determines the bus from the position of the request stop (1) and the current coordinates of all or several buses (2), such that the coordinates of all buses (2) which could best approach the request stop (1) at the desired time are queried especially via GPS, and it is checked which bus (2) could best approach the request stop (1) at the desired time.

7. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bus driver confirms the receipt of the stop request and the confirmation is forwarded to the central server (4).

8. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the confirmation, preferably with the expected arrival time of the bus (2) or the still remaining waiting time, is forwarded to the operator unit (18) and is displayed there.

9. Request stop (1) for marking the stop position of a transport business, characterized by a power supply, an operator unit (18) for entering a stop request and a send module (19) for transmitting the stop request to a central server (4).

10. Request stop (1) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the operator unit (18) is queried by a computer (23) provided in the request stop (1), which computer triggers the send module (19).

11. Request stop as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that in addition a receiver module (41) and an indicator module preferably arranged as a display (12) are provided.

12. Request stop as claimed claim 9, characterized in that the power supply comprises a solar panel (14).

13. Request stop as claimed claim 9, characterized in that the power supply comprises a storage battery and a charge controller for the storage battery.

14. Request stop as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the send module (19) and/or the receiver module (41) comprises a GSM modem (20) and a GSM antenna (15).

15. Request stop as claimed in claim 9, characterized by a motion detector (16) which is connected with the display module, especially via the computer (23).

16. Data acquisition device, comprising a power supply, a measuring device (18), a send module (19) for transmitting measured data to a central server (4), with the measuring device (18) being queried by a computer (23) which is provided in the data acquisition device (1) and which triggers the send module (19), characterized in that the power supply comprises a solar power unit, especially a solar panel (14).

17. Data acquisition device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the power supply comprises a storage battery and a charge controller for the storage battery.

18. Data acquisition device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that additionally a receiver module (20) and a display module (12) are provided.

19. Data acquisition device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the send module (19) and/or the receiver module (41) comprises a GSM modem (20) and a GSM antenna (15).

20. Data acquisition device as claimed in claim 16, characterized by a motion detector (16) which is connected with the display module (12), especially via the computer (23).

21. Transport system for a transport business, especially a bus transport business, comprising at least one request stop (1) which is only approached when a passenger desires to alight or board, at least one central server (4) and at least one signaling device (40) in a vehicle or bus (2) of the transport business, characterized in that the request stop (1) comprises an operator unit (18) for entering a stop request and a send module (19) for transmitting the stop request to the central server (4), that the central server (4) comprises a communication module for data exchange with the request stop (1) and the signaling device (40).

22. Transport system as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the signaling device (40) is realized by a Java-programmed mobile phone.