Validating removable fare collection system

• US 20050178639A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Inventors: Lapczynski, David, Brumfield, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/350
• 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: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/04 Means for returning surplus or unused coins
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes

Abstract

A low cost fare collection system includes a removable farebox having an integral collection box. The farebox can be installed in a temporary installation at a fare collection location for the collection of fares and can be removed to a secure location for emptying and reconciliation. The farebox can include an integral collection box for receiving fares deposited in the farebox. The farebox can be configured such that the collected fares can be emptied only when the farebox is removed from the temporary installation to reduce tampering and theft. A fare validator can be used to verify the amount and value of a fare deposited in the farebox to eliminate human validation of fares. Electronic monitors can collect data relating to fares deposited, total revenue collected, time of fare collection, and other data items that can be retrieved when the farebox is removed and emptied.

Claims

1. An apparatus for revenue collection, the apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to be installed in a revenue collection point for revenue collection and removed from the revenue collection point for revenue extraction;

a validator mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to validate a received payment; and

a collection receptacle integral to the housing and configured to collect the received payment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a farebox controller coupled to the validator and configured to collect one or more data based on an output from the validator.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more data comprises a running tally of revenue received.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more data comprises a total revenue collected.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more data comprises a time of revenue collection.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one display coupled to the farebox controller and configured to display an output from the farebox controller generated based on at least one validator output.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the display is configured to display a running tally of received fares.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a patron display coupled to the farebox controller and configured to display a running tally of revenue received from the patron.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an audio output module coupled to the farebox controller and configured to emit an audio output in response to a signal from the farebox controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the audio output module is configured to emit an audible output when the farebox controller determines a received fare meets or exceeds an expected fare value.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a data port coupled to the farebox controller and having one or more storage devices configured to store the one or more data collected by the farebox controller for subsequent extraction.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a farebox identification module within the housing and configured to provide a unique machine readable identification.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a secure access coupled to the housing and configured to provide access to contents of the collection receptacle only when the housing is removed from the revenue collection point.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the validator comprises an electronic coin validator having no movable mechanical parts.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a diverter interposed between the validator and the collection receptacle and configured divert the received payment to one of a plurality of paths base on an output from the validator.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coin singulator having an input configured to receive a plurality of coins and having an output coupled to the validator.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of tangs configured to mate with and be captured by a mounting plate when the housing is installed in the revenue collection point.

18. An apparatus for revenue collection, the apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to be installed in a revenue collection point for revenue collection and removed from the revenue collection point for revenue extraction;

a validator mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to validate a received payment;

a collection receptacle integral to the housing and configured to collect the received payment;

a secure access coupled to the housing and configured to provide access to contents of the collection receptacle only when the housing is removed from the revenue collection point;

a farebox controller coupled to the validator and configured to generate an output based on an output from the validator and further configured to compile one or more data based on the output from the validator; and

a data port coupled to the farebox controller and having one or more storage devices configured to receive the one or more data from the farebox controller for subsequent extraction.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a coin diverter coupled to the validator and configured to route the received payment to a coin return mounted on the housing based on an output from the validator.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a coin singulator having an input configured to receive a plurality of coins and having an output coupled to the validator.

21. An apparatus for revenue collection, the apparatus comprising:

means for releasably securing the apparatus to a revenue collection point;

means for validating received revenue coupled to the means for releasably securing the apparatus;

means for providing an output based on an output from the means for validating; and

means for collecting revenue received from the means for validating coupled to the means for releasably securing.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for validating comprises an electronic coin validator.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for validating comprises an electromechanical coin validator.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for providing an output comprises a means for displaying an output.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for providing an output comprises a means for emitting an audio output.

26. An apparatus for transport of removable fareboxes, the apparatus comprising:

one or more receptacles, each configured to receive one removable farebox;

a farebox identification module configured to determine an identification for each removable farebox inserted into the one or more receptacles, and further configured to determine if each farebox contains revenue; and

a locking mechanism configured to lock those removable fareboxes inserted into the one or more receptacles determined to contain revenue.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a processor configured to extract data from each removable farebox inserted within the one or more receptacles; and

a communications module coupled to the processor and configured to communicate the data to a computer.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the communications module is configured to communicate the data using a wireless link.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a GPS receiver configured to estimate a position location of the apparatus; and

a communications module coupled to the GPS receiver and configured to communicate the data to a computer.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the farebox identification module is configured to determine the identification using a wired link to the removable farebox.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the farebox identification module is configured to determine the identification using a wireless link to the removable farebox.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to release locked fareboxes using a key.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to release locked fareboxes upon receipt of a key code.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to maintain each removable farebox in an unlocked position that is determined to not contain revenue.

35. A method of secure revenue collection, the method comprising:

initializing a fare tally;

receiving a payment in a removable farebox having an integral revenue collection receptacle;

validating the payment;

collecting the payment in the integral revenue collection receptacle;

displaying an output based at least in part on the payment;

determining if a sufficient fare has been received; and

emitting an audio output if the sufficient fare has been received.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising singulating the payment prior to validating the payment.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising diverting the payment to an alternative location based in part on an output from the validator.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising diverting the payment to a coin return if the validator indicates an invalid payment.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising diverting the payment to a coin return if the validator indicates an excess payment.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

collecting fare data based in part on the payment; and

updating a data storage based on the fare data.

41. A method of secure revenue collection, the method comprising:

initializing a removable farebox;

installing the removable farebox in a revenue collection point;

collecting revenue using the removable farebox;

removing the removable farebox from the revenue collection point;

transporting the removable farebox to a revenue collection location;

extracting revenue from the removable farebox; and

extracting fare data from the removable farebox.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein initializing the removable farebox comprises initializing a collected revenue data field.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein initializing the removable farebox comprises setting an expected fare.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein collecting revenue comprises:

receiving a payment in the removable farebox having an integral revenue collection receptacle;

validating the payment;

collecting the payment in the integral revenue collection receptacle;

displaying an output based at least in part on the payment;

determining if a sufficient fare has been received; and

emitting an audio output if the sufficient fare has been received.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein extracting revenue comprises accessing an integral revenue collection receptacle within the removable farebox through a secure access.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein extracting fare data comprises extracting fare data via a wireless link to the removable farebox.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein extracting fare data comprises extracting fare data via a wired interconnect on the removable farebox.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein extracting fare data comprises extracting an expected revenue data from the removable farebox.