PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STANDING AND SITTING ROOM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100017215A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nigam, Meena, Seacat, Lisa A.
• Application Number:
  US12/174,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017215A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for transmitting, in real time, notification of the number of passengers riding on a public transportation vehicle. A passenger count is transmitted by an electronic counting system on a public transportation vehicle. The passenger count is received by a passenger notification device in real time. The passenger notification device then transmits a notification message containing the passenger count and a known capacity of the public transportation vehicle to a remote telecommunication device. The notification message transmitted by the passenger notification device may also contain supplemental information of additional features of the public transportation vehicle, and suggest alternative route options to the user. Additionally, the notification message may contain predictive information of the number of available spaces on the public transportation vehicle by referencing historical passenger data to further determine the likelihood that a person will be able to board.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting in real time notification of the number of passengers riding on a public transportation vehicle to a remote telecommunication device, the method comprising:

receiving a current location of the remote telecommunication device;

selecting a public transportation vehicle from a plurality of public transportation vehicles, wherein the public transportation vehicle is on a route passing within the closest proximity of the current location of the remote telecommunication device;

receiving a passenger count of the public transportation vehicle, wherein the passenger count contains an amount of available standing room spaces of the public transportation vehicle, and a count of the number of available seats of the public transportation vehicle;

comparing the passenger count of the public transportation vehicle with a historical passenger data of the public transportation vehicle;

in response to comparing the passenger count of the public transportation vehicle with the historical passenger data of the public transportation vehicle, determining an estimated amount of spaces, wherein the estimated amount of spaces is the estimated amount of available seats and available standing room spaces of the public transportation vehicle when the public transportation vehicle reaches a destination; and

transmitting a notification message to the remote telecommunication device, wherein the notification includes one or more of;

the count of the number of available seats of the public transportation vehicle,

the amount of available standing room spaces of the public transportation vehicle,

the passenger capacity of the public transportation vehicle,

a list of supplemental features of the public transportation vehicle,

an amount of available handicapped accessible seats of the public transportation vehicle,

the estimated amount of spaces of the public transportation vehicle.

2-9. -9. (canceled)