DK178112B1 - System, passenger train, method for assisting a passenger to locate a seat on a train - Google Patents
System, passenger train, method for assisting a passenger to locate a seat on a train Download PDFInfo
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- DK178112B1 DK178112B1 DK201300699A DKPA201300699A DK178112B1 DK 178112 B1 DK178112 B1 DK 178112B1 DK 201300699 A DK201300699 A DK 201300699A DK PA201300699 A DKPA201300699 A DK PA201300699A DK 178112 B1 DK178112 B1 DK 178112B1
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Abstract
A system, a passenger train (1), a method and a software produet (27) for assisting a passenger of a passenger train to locate a vacant or reserved seat (5) by providing an optical machine readable code (20,21) on said passenger train and to use the known location of said optical machine readable code to determine the location o f the passenger ( 6) who is requesting assistance for location of a passenger seat (5). When the passenger has seanned the optical machine readable code (20, 21) with his or her mobile device (7) the mobile device, based on information from a server provides navigational information from the location of said optical machine readable code (20, 21) to said vacant or reserved passenger seat (5).
Description
SYSTEM, PASSENGER TRAIN AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING A PASSENGER TO LOCATE A SEAT ON A TRAIN
The present application relates to a passenger train and a method that are configured for assisting a passenger in finding a vacant or reserved seat.
BACKGROUND ART
Public transport vehicles, such as trains or airplanes have a large number of seats marked in rows or simply by numbers. In particular with trains there can be large number of traincars that stretch along a considerable distance along a platform when the train halts/stops at a railway station for passengers to board and disembark the train. Due to the large number of traincars and the large number of seats therein it can be challenging for passengers to find a vacant seat or to find their reserved seat. JP2006018573 discloses a method for guiding a user to his seat using a mobile phone that transmits its location to a first server. The first server transmits location and seat info to a route server that determines a route and transmits the route to the first server that transmits the route to the mobile phone.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
On this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a passenger train that overcomes or at least reduces the problem above.
This object is achieved by providing a passenger train, said passenger train comprising a plurality of passenger seats systematically arranged in a seating arrangement in said passenger train, an individual optical machine readable code provided on a known location on said passenger train at a location that is readable with a mobile device for a passenger located in said passenger train or on a train platform next to said passenger train, a train server on board of said passenger train, said server comprising a processor and a memory connected to said processor, a wireless access point connected to said train server and configured for establishing a wireless network for allowing passenger owned mobile devices to access to the train server, a wireless modem connected to said train server and configured to providing access to a wide area network such as the internet, preferably to establish a connection with a booking server, said train server having the location of said individual optical machine readable code stored in said memory, said train server having information representing said seating arrangement stored in said memory, said train server being configured to keep a record of seat occupancy of the passenger seats in said seating arrangement, said train server being configured to receive location reguest via said wireless access point or wireless modem from a mobile device used by a requesting passenger for assistance in locating a vacant or reserved passenger seat in said seating arrangement for said requesting passenger, said train server being configured to determine at least one vacant or reserved seat from the passenger seats in said seating arrangement upon receipt of said seat location request, said train server being configured to send a message with information about the location of at least one vacant passenger seat relative to the location of said individual optical machine readable code to the mobile device of said requesting passenger via said wireless access point or via said wireless modem.
By providing a passenger train with an individual optical machine readable code located on said passenger train at a location that is known to the train server and located such that is can be read by a mobile device of a passenger in the passenger train or on a platform next to the passenger train, it is possible for the train server to determine the position of the passenger relative to the passenger train accurately because the user needs to hold his/her mobile device closely in front of the optical machine readable code in order to read the optical machine readable code with his/her mobile device. On the basis of this accurate location information of the passenger the train server is capable of providing accurate navigational guidance and advice on a vacant or a reserved passenger seat. This problem could not have been solved with using GPS or other satellite based navigation systems since commercially available navigation systems do not provide position information that is sufficiently accurate.
In an embodiment the passenger train further comprises at least one door for passengers to board or to disembark said passenger train, whereby said individual optical machine readable code is associated with said at least one door and provided on or near the associated door.
In an embodiment the passenger train further comprises an individual optical machine readable code associated with a passenger seat and provided at or near the associated passenger seat, preferably at an easily visible location, wherein said server is configured to receive a message that a passenger seat in said seating arrangement is occupied from the mobile device used by said requesting passenger via said wireless access point or wireless modem.
In an embodiment the train server is configured to determine on receipt of said message that a passenger seat in said seating arrangement is occupied whether the reguesting passenger occupies the seat that was allocated to him or her, and if this is not the case said server being configured to send a message to said passenger informing him or her about not occupying the allocated seat.
In an embodiment the train server is configured to synchronize said seat occupancy with said booking server when a connection via a wide area network such as the internet is established.
In an embodiment the train server attempts to synchronize said seat occupancy with said booking server before and/or after each major train station where the train stops to allow passenger to board and disembark the train .
In an embodiment the message with information about the determined vacant seat includes a graphical representation of at least a portion of said seating arrangement that includes said allocated vacant seat, said graphical representation may include an indication of the location of said optical machine readable code.
In an embodiment the message with information about the determined vacant seat includes navigational directions for guiding said requesting passenger from the location of said individual optical machine readable code to said vacant or reserved passenger seat.
In an embodiment the passenger train comprises one or more railcars, each railcar being numbered and comprising a plurality of passenger seats systematically arranged in a seating arrangement, with all railcars of said passenger train and all seating arrangements therein being stored in said memory.
The object above is also solved by providing a method of providing guidance to a passenger of a passenger train, said method comprising providing a train server on board of a said passenger train, said server comprising a processor and a memory connected to said processor, providing a seating arrangement in said passenger train, storing and maintaining in said train server a record of seat occupancy of the seats in said seating arrangement, providing an individual optical machine readable code located on said train at a location that is easily visible to a passenger, storing the location of said individual optical machine readable code stored in said memory, said train server receiving a seat location request via said wireless access point or wireless modem from a mobile device used by a requesting passenger to locate a vacant or reserved passenger seat from the passenger seats in said seating arrangement, said train server determining at a vacant or reserved seat from the passenger seats in said seating arrangement upon receipt of said seat location request, said train server sending a message with information about the location of at least one vacant or reserved passenger seat relative to the location of said individual optical machine readable code to the mobile device of said requesting passenger via said wireless access point or via said wireless modem.
In an embodiment the method further comprises providing an individual optical machine readable code associated with a passenger seat and provided at or near the associated passenger seat (easily visible), and said train server being configured to receive a message that a passenger seat in said seating arrangement is occupied from the mobile device used by said requesting passenger via said wireless access point or wireless modem.
The object above is also solved by providing a system for assisting a passenger in finding a vacant or reserved seat, said system comprising a server on a computer, an individual optical machine readable code and provided on a passenger train at known location on said passenger train and such that the optical machine readable code is readable with a mobile device for passengers located in said passenger train or on a train platform next to said passenger train, said server being connected to a wireless network that is accessible to a mobile device of a passenger, said server having access to information associating said individual optical machine readable code to a passenger train and to the location of said optical machine readable code on said passenger train, said server having access to information representing a seating arrangement in said passenger train, said server having access to a seat occupancy record including information on vacant and/or reserved passenger seats in said seating arrangement, said server being configured receive via said wireless network a seat finding assist message from a mobile device of a passenger requesting assistance in locating a reserved or allocated seat, said message identifying said individual optical machine readable code on said passenger train, said server being configured to determine at least one vacant or reserved passenger seat from the passenger seats in said seating arrangement upon receipt of said seat finding assist message, and said server being configured to send a message identifying the determined one or more vacant or reserved seats back to the mobile device of the reguesting passenger.
In an embodiment the wireless network is a local network such as e.g. a WiFi network and/or wide area network such as e.g. a 3G or a 4G network.
Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the passenger train, method and system according to the invention will become apparent from the detailed description .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of passenger train according to an example embodiment;
Fig. 2 shows the passenger train of Fig. 1 in a partially cut-open top view at a railway platform;
Fig 3 is a diagram of components involved in an example of an embodiment system ;
Fig 4 is system diagram according to an example embodiment;
Fig. 5 is an overview of a method according to an example embodiment for assisting a passenger to find a vacant seat, case according to Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is an overview of a method according to another example embodiment for assisting a passenger to find a reserved seat, and
Fig. 7 a further part of the overview of Fig. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following, example embodiments of the passenger train, system, method and software product, will be described in detail and with reference to the attached drawings .
Figs. 1 and 2 show a passenger train 1 with a railcar 8 and a seating arrangement with a plurality of seats 5. The seats 5 are placed in a fixed arrangement and preferably said passenger seats are numbered. The passenger train 1 is provided with doors 3,4 on both sides of the passenger train 1 for allowing passengers to embark and disembark the passenger train 1 when the passenger train 1 stops at a train station.
A train server 2 is provided on board of the passenger train 1. The train server 2 includes a processor, memory, a wireless access point 9, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot and software for operating the train server. The wireless access point 9 provides for a wireless network in and around the train that can be accessed a mobile device 7 used by the passenger 6 in order to give passengers access to the train server 2.
The train server 2 is also provided with a wireless modem for wirelessly connecting to a wide area network, such as via cells 14 of a mobile data network that connects to the Internet.
The train server 2 is configured for intermittent connection to the wide area network, i.e. it does not need to be continuously connected to the wide area network or to the Internet. One of the reasons for the train server 2 to connect to a wide area network is to establish data, communication with a booking server 12 that includes an online database having stored therein train configuration, train numbers seating arrangements, seat numbering, seat occupancy, train schedules, journey bookings, seat reservations, etc.
The train server 2 is configured to attempt to connect with the booking server 12 after or before each train station so as to update seat occupancy in a particular train to the booking server and to receive new bookings and reservations from the booking server 12 so the train server 2 does not need to be on line (connected to the wider network/Internet) continuously in order to carry out its functionality properly.
An individual optical machine readable code 20, such as a two-dimensional barcode is provided on the side of the passenger train 1, preferably near a door 3.
Alternatively, the optical machine readable code 20 can be placed anywhere on the side of the train as long as it can be easily scanned by a passenger on a train platform 10. It is also possible to locate the optical machine readable code 20 inside the passenger train 1. The train server has the location of the optical machine readable code 20 stored in its memory. The optical machine readable code 20, like any other optical machine readable codes mentioned can be provided as printed matter that is attached to the train, or can be shown on a display screen that is provided at a suitable location, such as near a door 3. The other door 4 of the passenger train and also the doors on the other side of the passenger train 1 can also be provided with individual optical machine readable codes 21.
As shown in Fig. 3, train tickets, for passenger train journeys can also be provided with an individual optical machine readable code 23. Further, each or at least a plurality of said seats 5 can have an optical code 30 associated therewith and this optical code machine readable code is located on or close to the seat to which it is associated.
The seating arrangement including the seats 5 of the train is stored in the train server 1. The train server 1 one keeps a record of seat occupancy.
Fig. 4 shows a system architecture according to an embodiment. The architecture is based on three types of optical machine readable code, such as two-dimensional barcode or QR code. One type of optical machine-readable code is the optical machine-readable code 23 on and associated with the train tickets. Another type of optical machine-readable code is the optical machine-readable code 20,21 on the passenger train 1, e.g. on or near a door 3,4 of the passenger train 1 and associated with the specific location on the train at which the optical machine-readable codes 20, 21 is located. A third type of optical machine-readable code is the optical machine readable code 30 placed on or near a passenger seat 5 and associated with the passenger seat concerned.
The architecture includes a QR code backend 33, the booking server 12, a train server 2, an online app software backend 35 and an off-line/online in train software on media server 37.
The optical machine-readable codes (QR codes) 20, 21, 23, 30 are managed by the QR code back end 33.
The booking server 12 includes an online database and has stored therein the information described above. The online database is kept up-to-date about all existing and newly issued optical readable machine codes by the QR code back end 33. The QR code back end 33 can be an integral part of a computer or several connected computers on which the booking server 12 and the QR code back end run. The booking server 12 is connects via a wide area network to the train server 2. However, since the train server is connected to the wide area network via a wireless modem 9 and since the passenger train is that many times moving the connection between the booking server 12 and the train server to may often be interrupted, but this is not pose a problem for the operation of the system.
At least one computer on board the passenger train 1 runs the train server 2.
The same or another computer runs the also offline/online in train app software on media server 37.
The various components of the system architecture communicate with one another via a local or wide area network, including wireless connections.
The online app software backend 35 provides online service to mobile devices 7 of passengers.
The mobile device 7, such as a smart phone is configured with a display and a camera. A seating app 27 is installed on the mobile device 7, and its code is stored on a memory of said mobile device 7 as a software product. The seating app 27 provides the functionality required for assisting a passenger in finding a vacant or reserved seat.
Fig. 5 illustrates the functionality of the system, the seating app 27 and the process of assisting a passenger 6 to find a vacant seat. The passenger starts the seating app 27 and the seating app prompts the passenger 6 to type in the number of the train car 8 or to scan the machine-readable code 20,21 on the train car 8. The passenger 6 enters the train car number or scans the optical machine-readable code 20,21. Thereupon, the seating app 27 communicates with the train server 2 via the wireless network of the train server 2 or seating app communicates with the booking server 12 via a wireless wide area network, such as a 3G network and sends a request to the train server 2 or to the booking server 12 for finding a vacant seat 5. Upon receipt of the request, the train server 2 or the booking server 12 determines one or more vacant seats, and sends a message with information about one or more vacant seats to the mobile device 7 of the requesting passenger 6. Upon receipt of this message the mobile device 7 shows a graphical representation in its display indicating one or more vacant passenger seats in the seating arrangement in the passenger train 1. In an embodiment the booking server 2 or the train server 12 sends a message including a plurality of vacant passenger seats from which the passenger can choose. Upon receipt of such a message the mobile device 7 displays a graphical representation showing seating arrangement and indicating vacant seats from which the reguest passenger can choose. The seating app 27 is configured to allow the passenger to mark or highlight one of the vacant passenger seats and the seating app 27 sends thereupon a message back to the train server 2 or to the booking server 12 indicating a selected passenger seat 5. Upon receipt of the message with the selected passenger seat 5 from the mobile device 7 the booking server 12 or the train server 2 allocates the selected seat to the reguesting passenger 6.
Next, the train server 2 or the booking server 12 may automatically or upon reguest from the mobile device 7 send a message with navigational information about the location of the selected passenger seat 5 relative to the location of the scanned optical machine-readable code 20.
Upon receipt of this message with navigational information the seating app 27 provides navigational assistance via the display and/or the loudspeaker of the mobile device 27.
The seating of 27 prompt the user to scan an optical readable code 30 associated with and located on or near the passenger seat 5 when the passenger has found the vacant passenger seat 5. When the user has scanned the optical readable code 30 with his/her mobile device 7, the mobile device 7 sends a message to the train server 2 or to the booking server 12 indicating that the reguesting passenger 6 occupies the allocated passenger seat 5. Upon receipt of this message the train server 2 or the booking server 12 updates its seat occupancy record.
Fig. 6 and 7 illustrates the functionality of the system, seating app 27 and the process of assisting a passenger 6 to find a reserved seat.
The passenger buys a ticket online, for example using a personal computer connected to the Internet and in communication with the booking server 12, payment for example via credit card. The passenger receives, e.g. via email, a printable train ticket 15, that includes an optical machine-readable code 23. The passenger prints the train ticket 15 and scans the optical machine-readable code 23 with his or her mobile device 7. The machine-readable code is registered in the seating app 27. In an embodiment the seating app includes the scan function for the machine-readable code. The seating app on the 27 communicates with the database of the booking server 12 and receives information showing where the passenger is seated once they get on board. In an embodiment a seat finder function is highlighted.
Alternatively, the passenger buys the ticket online using the seating app 27, so that the information about the journey and seat reservation are communicated from the booking server to the mobile device 7 is a part of the online booking procedure.
When the passenger arrives on the platform 10 he or she starts the seating app 27 and the seating app 27 prompts the passenger 6 to type in the number of the train car 8 or to scan the machine-readable code 20,21 on the train car 8. The passenger 6 enters the train car number or scans the optical machine-readable code 20,21. Thereupon, the seating app 27 communicates with the train server 2 via the wireless network of the train server 2 or seating app communicates with the booking server 12 via a wireless wide area network, such as a 3G network and sends a request to the train server 2 or to the booking server 12 for assisting in locating the reserved passenger seat 5.
Upon receipt of this request from the mobile device 7 the train server 2 or the booking server 12 sends a message with navigational information about the location of the selected passenger seat 5 relative to the location of the scanned optical machine-readable code 20.
Upon receipt of this message with navigational information the seating app 27 provides navigational assistance via the display and/or the loudspeaker of the mobile device 27.
The seating app 27 prompt the user to scan an optical readable code 30 associated with and located on or near the passenger seat 5 when the passenger has found the vacant passenger seat 5. When the user has scanned the optical readable code 30 with his/her mobile device 7, the mobile device 7 sends a message to the train server 2 or to the booking server 12 indicating that the requesting passenger 6 occupies the allocated passenger seat 5. Upon receipt of this message the train server 2 or the booking server 12 updates its seat occupancy record.
Although the teaching of this application has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the teaching of this application.
The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality. The single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several means recited in the claims.
Claims (13)
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK201300699A DK178112B1 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2013-12-17 | System, passenger train, method for assisting a passenger to locate a seat on a train |
| PCT/DK2014/050429 WO2015090328A1 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2014-12-12 | System, passenger train, method and software product for assisting a passenger to locate a seat on a train |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK201300699 | 2013-12-17 | ||
| DK201300699A DK178112B1 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2013-12-17 | System, passenger train, method for assisting a passenger to locate a seat on a train |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| DK178112B1 true DK178112B1 (en) | 2015-05-26 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK201300699A DK178112B1 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2013-12-17 | System, passenger train, method for assisting a passenger to locate a seat on a train |
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| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DK (1) | DK178112B1 (en) |
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| JP2003173458A (en) * | 2001-12-05 | 2003-06-20 | Toshiba Corp | Network system on board train, operation supporting server, and operation supporting method on board train |
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| JP2006018550A (en) * | 2004-07-01 | 2006-01-19 | Nec Corp | Seat guide system having function of checking ticket and method for checking ticket and providing guidance for seating |
| JP2006018573A (en) * | 2004-07-01 | 2006-01-19 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Destination guiding method and system |
| JP2008273509A (en) * | 2008-04-14 | 2008-11-13 | Toshiba Corp | Guide system and guide method |
| JP2008287499A (en) * | 2007-05-17 | 2008-11-27 | Fujitsu Ltd | Vacant seat guide system and vacant seat guide method |
| WO2010015265A1 (en) * | 2008-08-06 | 2010-02-11 | Siemens Enterprise Communications Gmbh & Co. Kg | Method and mobile device for locating a suitable boarding zone on a train platform |
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2013
- 2013-12-17 DK DK201300699A patent/DK178112B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2003173458A (en) * | 2001-12-05 | 2003-06-20 | Toshiba Corp | Network system on board train, operation supporting server, and operation supporting method on board train |
| JP2005141309A (en) * | 2003-11-04 | 2005-06-02 | Kureo:Kk | Reserved seat management system and method |
| JP2006018550A (en) * | 2004-07-01 | 2006-01-19 | Nec Corp | Seat guide system having function of checking ticket and method for checking ticket and providing guidance for seating |
| JP2006018573A (en) * | 2004-07-01 | 2006-01-19 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Destination guiding method and system |
| JP2008287499A (en) * | 2007-05-17 | 2008-11-27 | Fujitsu Ltd | Vacant seat guide system and vacant seat guide method |
| JP2008273509A (en) * | 2008-04-14 | 2008-11-13 | Toshiba Corp | Guide system and guide method |
| WO2010015265A1 (en) * | 2008-08-06 | 2010-02-11 | Siemens Enterprise Communications Gmbh & Co. Kg | Method and mobile device for locating a suitable boarding zone on a train platform |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBP | Patent lapsed |
Effective date: 20181217 |