Anti fare evasion system

• US 9,478,071 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar UK Holdings Ltd (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Hilton, David Gareth
• Primary Examiner(s): EPSTEIN, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/033,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 235/382, 235/384, 382/103, 382/118
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A system for monitoring passengers on a vehicle includes one or more detectors for detecting passenger data including one or more passenger identification properties. A computer system receives data from the detectors and uniquely identifies each passenger based on the one or more passenger identification properties. A device receives fare data indicative of whether a passenger has paid the correct fare, and uses the fare data, passenger identity and passenger data from the computer system to indicate which passengers have paid the correct fare.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring passengers on a vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more cameras for detecting passenger facial features for each of a plurality of passengers that have boarded the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of carriages;

one or more ticket scanners for detecting fare data paid by each of the plurality of passengers;

a computer system in data communication with the one or more cameras and the one or more ticket scanners, wherein the computer system comprises one or more processors and a wireless transceiver, and wherein the computer system;

receives detector data from the one or more cameras and uniquely identifies each passenger based on the facial features included in the detector data;

assigns each detected passenger a unique identifier based on the passenger facial features;

stores the unique identifier associated with each of the plurality of passengers to a database;

assigns icons to each of the plurality of passengers by;

determining first data corresponding to first fares paid by first passengers of the plurality of passengers, wherein determining the first data includes receiving data from the one or more ticket scanners;

storing the first data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the first passengers;

determining that the first data is indicative of the first passengers paving correct fares upon boarding the vehicle;

assigning a first icon for the first passengers, wherein the first icon is associated with passengers paying correct fares;

determining second data corresponding to second fares paid by second passengers of the plurality of passengers, wherein determining the second data includes using data received from the one or more ticket scanners;

storing the second data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the second passengers;

determining that the second data is indicative of the second passengers paying incorrect fares upon boarding the vehicle;

assigning a second icon for the second passengers, wherein the second icon is associated with passengers paying incorrect fares;

determining third data corresponding to determinations of third passengers of the plurality of passengers having associated tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle;

storing the third data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the third passengers;

assigning a third icon for the third passengers, wherein the third icon is associated with passengers having tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle;

determining fourth data corresponding to determinations of fourth passengers of the plurality of passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle;

storing the fourth data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the fourth passengers; and

assigning a fourth icon for the fourth passengers, wherein the fourth icon is associated with passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle;

tracks movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers by periodically determining locations of each passenger using the detector data from the one or more cameras and locations of the one or more cameras and storing the periodically determined locations of each passenger to the database in association with the unique identifier for the passenger; and

determines a particular carriage of the plurality of carriages that a mobile device is located in, wherein the mobile device is associated with a conductor of the vehicle, and wherein determining which of the plurality of carriages the mobile device is located in includes using the detector data to determine a location of the conductor; and

the mobile device, wherein the mobile device

retrieves a first map corresponding to a first layout of a first carriage of the plurality of carriages when the computer system determines that the location of the mobile device is in the first carriage;

displays the first map on a display device of the mobile device;

retrieves, using a mobile wireless transceiver of the mobile device, locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the first carriage;

displays icons for each of the plurality of passengers located in the first carriage, wherein the icons are selected from the first icon associated with passengers paying correct fares, the second icon associated with passengers paying incorrect fares, the third icon associated with passengers having tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle, and the fourth icon associated with passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle, and wherein the icons corresponding to each passenger located in the particular carriage are displayed at positions on the first map according to the locations of the passengers based on the tracking of movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers;

retrieves a second map corresponding to a second layout of a second carriage of the plurality of carriages when the computer system determines that the location of the mobile device changes to the second carriage, displays the second map on the display device of the mobile device;

retrieves, using the mobile wireless transceiver, locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the second carriage; and

displays icons for each of the plurality of passengers located in the second carriage, wherein the icons are selected from the first icon, the second icon, the third icon, and the fourth icon, and wherein the icons corresponding to each passenger located in the second carriage are displayed at positions on the second map according to the locations of the passengers based on the tracking of movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system and the mobile device are separate devices and wherein the mobile device receives passenger data and passenger identity from the computer system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiver of the computer system and the mobile wireless transceiver of the mobile device are used for communicating with each other.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the facial features detected by the one or more cameras are associated with locations of passengers within the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the one or more cameras are respectively positioned facing at least one of each entrance/exit of the vehicle, the entrance/exit of a section of the vehicle or a passenger seating area.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system includes the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system executes facial recognition software to uniquely identify each passenger.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the facial recognition software is configured to:

compare a first image from a camera with a second later image from the camera to detect a change between a portion of the second later image and the first image;

perform one or more facial recognition functions on the portion of the second later image that has changed relative to the first image;

store unique identifier information in the database along with new passenger location information when a new passenger face is identified; and

update the passenger location information in the database when a known passenger face is identified.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one camera is located in at least one different location than the computer system and mobile device and the fare data is collected in the at least one different location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device receives the fare data from the one or more ticket scanners and automatically indicates which passengers have paid a correct fare using at least one of at least one display device or at least one audio system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one ticket scanner comprises at least one radio frequency detector that detects at least one radio frequency tag.

12. A method for monitoring passengers on a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, detector data from one or more cameras, wherein the detector data corresponds to passenger facial features for each of a plurality of passengers that have boarded the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of carriages;

assigning each detected passenger a unique identifier based on the passenger facial features;

storing, using the one or more processors, the unique identifier associated with each of the plurality of passengers to a database;

assigning icons to each of the plurality of passengers, wherein assigning includes;

determining, using the one or more processors, first data corresponding to first fares paid by first passengers of the plurality of passengers, wherein determining the first data includes receiving data from one or more ticket scanners;

storing, using the one or more processors, the first data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned with the first passengers;

determining, using the one or more processors, that the first data is indicative of the first passengers paying correct fares upon boarding the vehicle;

assigning, using the one or more processors, a first icon for the first passengers, wherein the first icon is associated with passengers paying correct fares;

determining, using the one or more processors, second data corresponding to second fares paid by second passengers of the plurality of passengers, wherein determining the second data includes using data received from the one or more ticket scanners;

storing, using the one or more processors, the second data to the database in association with unique identifier assigned to the second passengers;

determining, using the one or more processors, that the second data is indicative of the second passengers paying incorrect fares upon boarding the vehicle;

assigning, using the one or more processors, a second icon for the second passengers, wherein the second icon is associated with passengers paying incorrect fares;

determining, using the one or more processors, third data corresponding to determinations of third passengers of the plurality of passengers having associated tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle;

storing, using the one or more processors, the third data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the third passengers;

assigning, using the one or more processors, a third icon for the third passengers, wherein the third icon is associated with passengers having tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle;

determining, using the one or more processors, fourth data corresponding to determinations of fourth passengers of the plurality of passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle;

storing, using the one or more processors, the fourth data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the fourth passengers; and

assigning, using the one or more processors, a fourth icon for the fourth passengers, wherein the fourth icon is associated with passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle;

tracking, using the one or more processors, movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers, wherein tracking includes periodically determining locations of each passenger using the detector data from the one or more cameras and camera locations of the one or more cameras and storing the periodically determined locations of each passenger to the database in association with the unique identifier for the passenger;

determining that a mobile device is located in a first carriage of the plurality of carriages, wherein the mobile device includes a display device, wherein determining that the mobile device is located in the first carriage includes using the detector data from the one or more cameras to determine a location of a vehicle conductor associated with the mobile device;

retrieving, by the mobile device, a first map corresponding to a first layout of the first carriage;

displaying the first map on the display device of the mobile device;

retrieving, using a wireless transceiver of the mobile device, locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the first carriage;

displaying icons for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the first carriage on the first map displayed on the display device, wherein the icons are selected from the first icon associated with passengers paying correct fares, the second icon associated with passengers paying incorrect fares, the third icon associated with passengers having tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle, and the fourth icon associated with passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle, and wherein the icons corresponding to each passenger located in the first carriage are displayed at positions on the first map according to the locations of the passengers based on the tracking of movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers;

determining, using the one or more processors of the mobile device, that the mobile device has moved to a second carriage of the plurality of carriages, wherein determining that the mobile device has moved to the second carriage includes using the detector data from the one or more cameras to determine an updated location of the conductor associated with the mobile device;

retrieving, by the mobile device, a second map corresponding to a second layout of the second carriage;

displaying the second map on the display device of the mobile device;

retrieving, using the wireless transceiver of the mobile device, locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the second carriage; and

displaying icons for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the second carriage on the second map displayed on the display device, wherein the icons are selected from the first icon, the second icon, the third icon, and the fourth icon, and wherein the icons corresponding to each passenger located in the second carriage are displayed at positions on the second map according to the locations of the passengers based on the tracking of movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the passenger facial features are transmitted to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein assigning each detected passenger a unique identifier is performed by the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein assigning each detected passenger a unique identifier includes performing a facial recognition function to uniquely identify each passenger.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein tracking includes:

comparing a first image from a camera of the one or more cameras with a second later image from the camera to detect a change between a portion of the second later image and the first image;

performing one or more facial recognition functions on the portion of the second image that has changed relative to the first image;

wherein when a new passenger face is identified, a new unique identifier is stored in the database along with passenger location information for the new passenger face; and

wherein, when a known passenger face is identified, but it is not new, the passenger location information in the database is updated.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a set of instructions, stored in at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one processing unit to perform operations including;

receiving, using the at least one processing unit, detector data from one or more cameras, wherein the detector data corresponds to passenger facial features for each of a plurality of passengers that have boarded a vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of carriages;

assigning each detected passenger a unique identifier based on the passenger facial features;

storing, using the at least one processing unit, the unique identifier associated with each of the plurality of passengers to a database;

assigning icons to each of the plurality of passengers, wherein assigning includes;

determining, using the at least one processing unit first data corresponding to first fares paid by first passengers of the plurality of passengers, wherein determining the first data includes receiving data from one or more ticket scanners;

storing, using the at least one processing unit the first data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned with the first passengers;

determining, using the at least one processing unit, that the first data is indicative of the first passengers paying correct fares upon boarding the vehicle;

assigning, using the at least one processing unit, a first icon for the first passengers, wherein the first icon is associated with passengers paying correct fares;

determining, using the at least one processing unit, second data corresponding to second fares paid by second passengers of the plurality of passengers, wherein determining the second data includes using data received from the one or more ticket scanners;

storing, using the at least one processing unit, the second data to the database in association with unique identifier assigned to the second passengers;

determining, using the at least one processing unit, that the second data is indicative of the second passengers paying incorrect fares upon boarding the vehicle;

assigning, using the at least one processing unit, a second icon for the second passengers, wherein the second icon is associated with passengers paying incorrect fares;

determining, using the at least one processing unit, third data corresponding to determinations of third passengers of the plurality of passengers having associated tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle;

storing, using the at least one processing unit the third data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the third passengers;

assigning, using the at least one processing unit a third icon for the third passengers, wherein the third icon is associated with passengers having tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle;

determining, using the at least one processing unit, fourth data corresponding to determinations of fourth passengers of the plurality of passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle;

storing, using the at least one processing unit, the fourth data to the database in association with unique identifiers assigned to the fourth passengers; and

assigning, using the at least one processing unit, a fourth icon for the fourth passengers, wherein the fourth icon is associated with passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle;

tracking, using the at least one processing unit, movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers, wherein tracking includes periodically determining locations of each passenger using the detector data from the one or more cameras and camera locations of the one or more cameras and storing the periodically determined locations of each passenger to the database in association with the unique identifier for the passenger;

determining that a mobile device is located in a first carriage of the plurality of carriages, wherein the mobile device includes a display device, wherein determining that the mobile device is located in the first carriage includes using the detector data from the one or more cameras to determine a location of a vehicle conductor associated with the mobile device;

transmitting, to the mobile device, a first map corresponding to a first layout of the first carriage, wherein receiving the first map at the mobile device facilitates displaying the first map on the display device of the mobile device;

transmitting, using a wireless transceiver, locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the first carriage to the mobile device, wherein receiving the locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the first carriage at the mobile device facilitates the mobile device displaying icons for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the first carriage on the first map displayed on the display device, wherein the icons are selected from the first icon associated with passengers paying correct fares, the second icon associated with passengers paying incorrect fares, the third icon associated with passengers having tickets or passes checked while on the vehicle, and the fourth icon associated with passengers having traveled beyond approved limits while on the vehicle, and wherein the icons corresponding to each passenger located in the first carriage are displayed at positions on the first map according to the locations of the passengers based on the tracking of movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers;

determining that the mobile device has moved to a second carriage of the plurality of carriages, wherein determining that the mobile device has moved to the second carriage includes using the detector data from the one or more cameras to determine an updated location of the conductor associated with the mobile device;

transmitting, to the mobile device, a second map corresponding to a second layout of the second carriage, wherein receiving the second map at the mobile device facilitates displaying the second map on the display device of the mobile device; and

transmitting, using the wireless transceiver, locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the second carriage, wherein receiving the locations for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the second carriage facilitates the mobile device displaying icons for each of the plurality of passengers that are located in the second carriage on the second map displayed on the display device, wherein the icons are selected from the first icon, the second icon, the third icon, and the fourth icon, and wherein the icons corresponding to each passenger located in the second carriage are displayed at positions on the second map according to the locations of the passengers based on the tracking of movements and locations on the vehicle of each of the plurality of passengers.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein tracking includes:

comparing a first image from a camera of the one or more cameras with a second later image from the camera to detect a change between a portion of the second later image and the first image;

performing one or more facial recognition functions on the portion of the second later image that has changed relative to the first image;

wherein, when a new passenger face is identified, a new unique identifier is stored in the database along with passenger location information for the new passenger face; and

wherein, when a known passenger face is identified, but it is not new, the passenger location information in the database is updated.