System, method and apparatus for use in a transportation system

• US 7,229,016 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro SA (Corporation De Fomento De La Produccion)
• Original Assignee: Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro SA (Corporation De Fomento De La Produccion)
• Inventors: Bravo, Felipe
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/080,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/382, 235/384, 705/13
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0652 e-cash with decreasing value according to a parameter, e.g. time
• 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 7/0826 Embedded security module

Abstract

A fare payment system including a proximity card; an antenna to read and write information onto the card, preferably a Mifare antenna; a processor connected to the antenna; a validator or POS processor, where the processor is entirely independent from the validator or POS processor; and one or more SAM storage modules which contain tables, access codes and other sensitive information. The SAM module is also controlled by the system administrator, which allows dynamic and diversified codes to guarantee the security and veracity of the information being transmitted. The system, method and apparatus of the present invention are capable of being programmed regardless of the POS processor, and any sensitive data can be withheld entirely from the suppliers of the antenna and POS processor technology. Additionally, because each antenna has its own processor, it can work both on-line and off-line. The processor also has a non-volatile EEPROM memory for information storage, but stores the access codes and other sensitive data in volatile memory so that a power loss will erase the access codes from the processor memory, leaving them only in the storage module memory. All of these features restrict access to sensitive system information and secure that information from outside suppliers.

Claims

1. A fare payment device for a passenger transport system, said fare payment device comprising:

an antenna, said antenna wirelessly transmitting and receiving information pertaining to a proximity card used by a patron of said transport system;

a processor, said processor connected to said antenna, said processor being independent from a point of sale (POS) processor or transaction validator; and

a storage module, said storage module containing therein tables, access codes and sensitive data associated with a particular electronic transaction method, said fare payment device operating, pursuant to said particular electronic transaction method, independently of said point of sale processor or transaction validator.

2. The fare payment device according to claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises a Mifare antenna.

3. The fare payment device according to claim 1, wherein said processor is a microprocessor.

4. The fare payment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

security software controlled by an administrator of the passenger transport system, said administrator using special control routines in order for said fare payment device to enter into operation, thereby allowing incorporation of several dynamic and diversified codes that will guarantee the veracity of the information being transmitted.

5. The fare payment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one port, said at least one port providing communication with a point of sale (POS) processor or validator.

6. The fare payment device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one port connects said fare payment device to an external point of sale device, said external point of sale device being selected from the group consisting of:

a fixed point of sale and charge processor, a self-service processor at point of sale and charge points, a processor placed at a mobile point of sale, a Validator in public transport vehicles, and fixed access control points, whereby said fare payment device can work on-line or off-line.

7. The fare payment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one LED display, whereby the workings of the fare payment device may be visualized.

8. The fare payment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one non-volatile EEPROM storage module, said module being connected to said processor.

9. The fare payment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a volatile memory, whereby information stored in said volatile memory of said fare payment device disappears when there is a power outage or an attempt to penetrate said volatile memory.

10. The fare payment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

timer able to synchronize the date and time register of the transactions made by said patron.

11. The fare payment device according to claim 1, wherein said storage module further comprises a second set of information, said second set of information comprising tables, access codes and sensitive data associated with an electronic transaction method.

12. A fare payment system for a passenger transportation system, said fair payment system comprising:

a proximity card, said proximity card having security information, access codes and data mapping thereon;

a fare payment device having an antenna, said antenna wirelessly transmitting and receiving information pertaining to said proximity card;

a processor, said processor being connected to said antenna, said processor being independent from a point of sale (POS) processor or transaction validator; and

a storage module, said storage module containing therein tables, access codes and sensitive data associated with a particular electronic transaction method, said fare payment device operating, pursuant to said particular electronic transaction method, independently of said point of sale processor or transaction validator; and

a point of sale device, said point of sale device being isolated and separate from said fare payment device.

13. The fare payment system according to claim 12, wherein said point of sale device is selected from the group consisting of:

a fixed point of sale and charge processor, a self-service processor at point of sale and charge points, a processor placed at a mobile point of sale, a validator in public transport vehicles and fixed access control points, whereby said fare payment device can work on-line or off-line.

14. A control device for recording the charge and electronic collection of fares in a passenger transportation system, said control device comprising:

an antenna, said antenna transmitting to and receiving information from a proximity card;

a processor, said processor being connected to and controlling operation of said antenna; and

a memory, said memory storing security information therein, including configuration tables, access codes and rules of business,

wherein said control device is configured to communicate with said proximity card via said antenna and with an external point of sale device; and

wherein said control device operates independently of said external point of sale device.

15. The control device according to claim 14, wherein said antenna comprises a Mifare antenna.

16. The control device according to claim 14, further comprising;

security software controlled by an administrator of the passenger transportation system, said administrator using special control routines in order for said control device to enter into operation, thereby allowing several dynamic and diversified codes to be incorporated that will guarantee the veracity of the information being transmitted.

17. The control device according to claim 14, further comprising:

at least one LED display, whereby the working of the fare payment device may be visualized.

18. The control device according to claim 14, wherein said control device further comprises at least one non-volatile EEPROM storage module, said module being connected to said processor.

19. The control device according to claim 14, wherein said device communicates with an external point of sale device selected from the group consisting of:

a fixed point of sale and charge processor, a self-service processor at point of sale and charge points, a processor placed at a mobile point of sale, a validator in public transport vehicles, and fixed access control points, whereby said control device can work on-line or off-line.

20. The control device according to claim 14, wherein said control device has a volatile memory, whereby information stored in said volatile memory of said control device disappears when there is a power outage or an attempt to penetrate said volatile memory.

21. The control device according to claim 14, wherein said memory further comprises a second set of information, said second set of information comprising tables, access codes and sensitive data associated with an electronic transaction method.