Method For Automatically Detecting The Use Of A Means Of Transport Conveying Persons

• US 20080126188A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mcity GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mcity GmbH
• Inventors: Stoffelsma, Bouke C., Feiter, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,018,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0652 e-cash with decreasing value according to a parameter, e.g. time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• 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: 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 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• 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 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for automatically detecting the use of a means of transport (10; 16) conveying persons. According to said method, a transmitter emits signals, a receiver receives signals emitted by the transmitter, positional and/or movement-related data of the means of transport are determined, and the use of the means of transport is detected based on an evaluation of the change in intensity of successive signals received by the receiver as well as the positional and/or movement-related data.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting the use of a chargeable means of transport for conveying persons, wherein

at least one transmitter emits signals,

a receiver receives signals emitted by the transmitter,

positional and/or movement-related data of the means of transport are determined and

a detection of the use of the means of transport is carried out on the base of an evaluation of a change in intensity of successive signals received by the receiver as well as the positional and/or movement-related data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is placed in the means of transport, the receiver is integrated in a user terminal and the evaluation is realized in the user terminal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein reception and control device is arranged within the means of transport, which device receives the signals emitted by the transmitter and controls the function of the transmitter by means of the received signals.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmitter automatically changes the frequency on which it transmits, if the function is disturbed.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is placed inside the means of transport and a comparison transmitter is placed outside at the means of transports, wherein the comparison transmitter emits comparison signals.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter and the comparison transmitter emit signals of the same intensity or signals having a pre-determined difference of intensity.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein if the receiver receives signals from several transmitters and/or comparison transmitters that are placed within different means of transport, the user terminal will reduce the number of received signals using exclusion criteria, such that maximum one signal and/or one comparison signal remain.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is integrated in a user terminal, the receiver is arranged in the means of transport, the signal emitted by the transmitter presents an identification that unequivocally identifies the user terminal or the user and the evaluation is carried out in a separate evaluation unit in additional consideration of the identification.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the receiver is placed inside the means of transport and a comparison receiver is placed outside at the means of transport.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter emits signals in regular time intervals.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmitter is placed inside the means of transport and a comparison transmitter is placed outside at the means of transport, wherein the comparison transmitter emits comparison signals.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein the transmitter is placed inside the means of transport and a comparison transmitter is placed outside at the means of transport, wherein the comparison transmitter emits comparison signals.

13. The method according to claim 3, wherein if the receiver receives signals from several transmitters and/or comparison transmitters that are placed within different means of transport, the user terminal will reduce the number of received signals using exclusion criteria, such that maximum one signal and/or one comparison signal remain.

14. The method according to claim 4, wherein if the receiver receives signals from several transmitters and/or comparison transmitters that are placed within different means of transport, the user terminal will reduce the number of received signals using exclusion criteria, such that maximum one signal and/or one comparison signal remain.

15. The method according to claim 5, wherein if the receiver receives signals from several transmitters and/or comparison transmitters that are placed within different means of transport, the user terminal will reduce the number of received signals using exclusion criteria, such that maximum one signal and/or one comparison signal remain.

16. The method according to claim 6, wherein if the receiver receives signals from several transmitters and/or comparison transmitters that are placed within different means of transport, the user terminal will reduce the number of received signals using exclusion criteria, such that maximum one signal and/or one comparison signal remain.