Voyage registration system

• US 5,801,367 A
• Filed: 07/08/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johan Asplund
• Original Assignee: Johan Asplund
• Inventors: Asplund, Johan, Lundholm, Nils-Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US08/656,222
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/382, 235/380, 235/492, 235/384
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• 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: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A travel registration arrangement including a travel pass unit for general communication, e.g. by train, by air, by sea, by bus. The unit (15) includes a processor, a write and erasable memory unit connected to the processor, a display window (2) and keys that can be manipulated by a traveller provided with the travel pass. The system includes a station (10) for issuing the travel pass unit. A traveller who wishes to obtain a travel pass is registered in the station together with a code number which is unique to the unit (15) and which is written into a fixed memory. Data relating to the traveller is written into the writable memory unit of the travel pass and, on the occasion of issue, possibly also data relating to the journey or route concerned. Data relating to the issued travel pass is stored in a data base (11), together with information relating to the journey or route concerned. A plurality of terminals (17-20) which include travel pass unit readers/writers are connected to the data base (11). Subsequent to inserting the travel pass unit, each terminal will scan the data written in its memory, check this data with data in the date base relating to the travel pass unit, and check that the data contained in the travel pass unit relating to journey or route coincides with the journey or route written in the data base. If no agreement is found, the data stored in the data base relating to the journey or the route is written into the memory of the travel pass unit.

Claims

1. Travel registration system including a travel pass unit for general communication by train, air, sea, or bus, wherein the unit includes a processor, a write and erasable memory unit connected to the processor, a display window (2), and keys which can be operated by a traveller in possession of the travel pass, the system comprising

a travel pass unit issuing station (10) in which a traveler seeking a travel pass is registered together with a code number which is unique to the travel pass unit (15) and which is written into a fixed memory, and in which station data relating to the traveller is written into a writable memory unit in the travel pass and, on the occasion of issuing the pass, any data relating to the journey or route concerned;

a data base (11) to which data relating to an issued travel pass is intended to be stored together with information relating to the journey or route concerned; and

a plurality of terminals (17-20) which are connected to the data base (11) and which are equipped with travel pass unit readers/writers, wherein subsequent to inserting the travel pass unit each terminal scans the data written into its memory, checks this data with data continued in the data base concerning the travel pass unit and checks that the data written into the travel pass unit and relating to the journey or route coincides with the journey or route written into the data base, and when no agreement is found writes into the memory of the travel pass unit the data stored in the data base concerning the journey or the route in question.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the keys on the travel pass unit solely instigate activation of unit elements and the display of information written into the memory unit.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the travel pass unit includes sensor elements (8, 9A, 9B) for identifying a unique characteristic of the owner of the unit, wherein a signal received in the processor from a sensor element is compared with memory stored data relating to an acceptable signal.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein each terminal is arranged to check that identification of the card owner in relation to the card was positive prior to carrying out other checks on the travel pass unit in the data base, and when such is not the case to reject the card as not being identifiable with the correct owner.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the sensor element (8, 9A, 9B) is activated only after a given period of time has lapsed since the travel pass unit was activated.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the display window (2) includes a display part (21) which in response to an identification process with the aid of the sensor element is adapted to be shown over a predetermined time period upon completion of the identification operation.