Information system for public transportation and corresponding communication method

• US 6,888,443 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Ritter, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/998,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.8, 455/556, 725/75, 725/76, 725 1- 8, 345/864, 235/383
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• 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: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles

Abstract

An information system for vehicles (35) includes a plurality of contactless transceivers (31-32) oriented in the direction of the passengers (36) that allow a data transfer at close range, with a central data processor (2). A data bus (3) is connected with the transceivers (31-32) and with the central data processor (2), so that data can be transmitted between private portable terminals (4) of the passengers and the central data processor (2) in both directions over the transceivers (31-32) and the data bus (3). The portable terminals (4) additionally store passengers'"'"' identification data in such a manner that the identification data are transmitted to the central data processor, so that the system can check the passengers'"'"' travel authorizations.

Claims

1. An information system for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of contactless transceivers that allow a data transfer at close range with privae portable terminals within the vehicle,

central data processing means including means for checking the passengers travel authorizations,

a data bus that is connected with said transceivers and with said data processing means, so that data can be transmitted between said private portable terminals and said central data processing means in both directions over said transceivers and said data bus, wherein said private portable terminals are adapted for being carried by passengers,

means for distributing information and entertainment programs to said portable terminals for use by the passengers, and

means for storing passengers'"'"' identification data in said portable terminals in such a manner that these identification data are transmitted to said central data processing means, so that said system can check the passengers'"'"' travel authorizations.

2. The information system of claim 1, wherein at least one radio receiver is connected with said central data processing means that can receive data from a sender outside the vehicle.

3. The information system of claim 2, wherein a bi-directional data transfer is possible between said radio receiver and said sender.

4. The information system of claim 3, wherein the data received with said radio receiver are converted into a format compatible with said data bus.

5. The information system of claim 3, wherein said transceivers are suitable for a communication with RFID elements.

6. The information system of claim 3, wherein said transceivers are suitable for a communication according to the Bluetooth standard.

7. The information system of claim 3, wherein said transceivers are suitable for a communication according to the HomeRF standard.

8. The information system of claim 2, wherein said radio receiver can receive DAB program-accompanying data.

9. The information system of claim 2, wherein said radio receiver can receive DVB program-accompanying data.

10. The information system of claim 3, wherein said radio receiver can receive and send GSM data.

11. The information system of claim 3, wherein said radio receiver can receive and send UMTS data.

12. The information system of claim 10, wherein a voice and/or data communication between the passengers in the vehicle and subscribers of an external mobile radio network can take place over said data bus and said radio receiver.

13. The information system of claim 12, wherein temporary mobile network identifications are provided by the operator of the vehicle.

14. The information system of claim 12, wherein said data processing means comprise a visitor register in which the passengers'"'"' personal identifications in said mobile radio network are stored.

15. The information system claim 1, wherein a voice and/or data communication between the passengers in the vehicle can take place over said data bus.

16. The information system of claim 1, wherein at least one said transceiver is intended for checking the entering and leaving passengers at the doors of the vehicle.

17. The information system of claim 16, wherein the position of the identified passengers in the vehicle is stored in said data processing means.

18. The information system of claim 17, wherein at least certain data transmitted over said data bus are addressed depending on said stored position.

19. The information system of claim 1, wherein a software module for computing the traveled distance is executed in said central data processing means.

20. The information system of claim 19, wherein said software—

module uses the passengers'"'"' identification stored in said private terminals of these passengers.

21. The information system of claim 1, wherein a location determining module is connected with said central data processing means.

22. The information system of claim 21, wherein location-dependent information is selected depending on said location-determining module and distributed to passengers.

23. A method for checking the travel authorizations of passengers in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

checking the passengers'"'"' travel authorizations being stored in portable personal terminals adapted for being carried by the passengers,

transmitting said travel authorizations to central data processing means over a data bus, and

distributing information and entertainment programs over the data bus to the passengers.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said information and entertainment programs are reproduced with said personal terminals.

25. The communication method of claim 23, wherein the passengers log into an external mobile radio network over said data bus.

26. The communication method of claim 25, wherein a temporary user identification is provided by the operator of the vehicle.

27. The communication method of claim 26, wherein the passengers'"'"' personal user identification in the external mobile radio network is stored in a visitor register in the vehicle.

28. Information system for vehicles, comprising:

a plurality of short range radio transceivers that allow a bidirectional data transfer at close range with a plurality of portable personal terminals within the vehicle, wherein each of said portable personal terminals is adapted for being carried by a passenger;

central data processing means including means for checking the passengers'"'"' travel authorization,

a data bus that is connected with said transceivers and with said data processing means, so that data can be transmitted between the private portable terminals and said central data processing means in both directions over said transceivers and said data bus,

means for distributing information and entertainment programs to the portable terminals and

means for storing passengers'"'"' identification data in the portable terminals in such a manner that these identification data are transmitted to said central data processing means for checking the passengers'"'"' travel authorizations.

29. The information system of claim 28, wherein said transceivers and said terminals are suitable for a communication according to the Bluetooth standard.

30. An information system for a vehicle, comprising:

a portable private terminal adapted for being carried by a passenger and including;

a memory for storing passenger identification data, and

an output for providing entertainment and/or informational content to the passenger;

a wireless transceiver that allows a data transfer at close range with said portable terminals within or near the vehicle;

a central processor for checking a travel authorization of the passenger;

a data bus connected with said central processor and wirelessly connected with said private portable terminals in both directions over said transceivers;

wherein

said identification data is transmitted to said central data processing means from said private terminals over said data bus for checking said travel authorization of the passenger, and further wherein

information and/or entertainment programs are transmitted to said portable terminal over the data bus for use by the passenger.