GB2138984A - Electronic ticket issuing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic ticket issuing machine system has a central control means holding extensive data relating to prices, fares, etc. Each of a plurality of ticket-issuing machines has a detachable memory module which can be supplied with a part of that data and inserted in a machine. The modules receive ticket sales data from the machine which can be read later by the control means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic ticket issuing machines This invention relates to electronic ticket issuing machines, and in particular to such machines adapted for use on public service vehicles. The invention also includes a method of operating a ticket system.

Up to now, it has been known to use electronic ticket issuing machines in which large amounts of data, covering the operating tables, fare structures, etc., for a whole area of operations and including many routes, are stored for use as necessary. The up-dating of this information is a considerable problem, and is considerably time consuming, since the usual storage media are EPROMS (erasable programmable read-only memories) or magnetic tape cassettes. This data has in the past therefore been infrequently changed, and where magnetic storage has been used for ticket sales and other operational data, the latter has been held in a separate module. It is an object of this invention to make the updating of data for such machines easier and cheaper to accomplish.

A consideration of the problem leads to the realisation that, in reality, it is seldom necessary that any one ticket issuing station, e.g. one vehicle, should have available more than a fraction of this fare data at any one time. Thus, for example it is sufficient that a vehicle on the road one day shall have fare structures and other details appropriate for just that day on the routes it is to cover.

Accordingly, the invention proposes an electronic ticket issuing machine system having central control means, a plurality of ticket-issuing machines, and memory modules which can be supplied with fare data by the central control means and inserted in a ticket issuing machine, the modules receiving ticket sales data from the machine which can be read later by the control means. The memory modules may, for example, be a non-volatile, CMOS memory supported by a small battery.

The advantages of the system according to the invention are considerable. The CMOS memory can be re-loaded with the small amount of data needed very rapidly and cheaply. This can therefore be done frequently, usually daily, so that the data used by the ticket machines is always up to date.

The invention is described below using as an example an application related to public service vehicle mounted ticket mechines.

The system according to the invention shown in the drawing consists of a central computer equipped with storage for a large number of fare tables and a number of ticket machines equipped with plug-in CMOS memory modules having sufficient capacity for those fare tables required during one period of duty. The memory required is therefore a small fraction of that which would be required to store the entire fare structure for an area.

The operator, e.g. a bus driver or conductor, selects a memory module, plugs it into the central computer read/write interface and causes data relating to the limited number of fare tables required to be entered from the central computer. This could conveniently be accomplished by entering a duty number specifying the fare tables required for that period of duty of that operator. The memory module would thus be loaded with the required limited fare data required very rapidly (say one second or less).

The operator then removes the module from the central computer, carries it to his ticket machine and plugs it into that machine. Thus, only the required fare tables are transferred using only the minimum memory and reducing size and cost to realistic levels.

During the duty period, operational data such as ticket sales, routes travelled, timings, concessionary tickets used, and the like, are stored continuously or at intervals in the same memory module by the ticket machine. At the end of the period, the module can be removed, at a convenient time inserted again into the central control means, and the operational data read into the computer. This data can be erased, or simply overwritten in the next duty period. The 'convenient time' may be when the next duty period starts.

It will be clear that the data, fare tables, etc., held in the central computer is easily itself up-dated, and thus response to new tariffs, occasional concessionarty fares and the like can be rapid. It is then not necessary to call in all the memory modules for up-dating; this is automatically done by each operator at the start of the next duty roster.

The use of such a system can also be envisaged in other fields, e.g. centralised theatre ticket operations.

1. An electronic ticket issuing machine system having central control means, a plurality of ticketissuing machines, and detachable memory modules which can be supplied with fare data by the central control means and inserted in a ticket issuing machine, the modules receiving ticket sales data from the machine which can be read later by the control means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory modules are non-volatile, CMOS memory units, each with a battery.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the storage capacity of the memory module is a small fraction of that of the central control means.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said central control means is responsive to a code, identifying a part of the data held by it, to inject that data into a memory module.

5. An electronic ticket issuing machine system substantially as described herein.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electronic ticket issuing machines This invention relates to electronic ticket issuing machines, and in particular to such machines adapted for use on public service vehicles. The invention also includes a method of operating a ticket system. Up to now, it has been known to use electronic ticket issuing machines in which large amounts of data, covering the operating tables, fare structures, etc., for a whole area of operations and including many routes, are stored for use as necessary. The up-dating of this information is a considerable problem, and is considerably time consuming, since the usual storage media are EPROMS (erasable programmable read-only memories) or magnetic tape cassettes. This data has in the past therefore been infrequently changed, and where magnetic storage has been used for ticket sales and other operational data, the latter has been held in a separate module. It is an object of this invention to make the updating of data for such machines easier and cheaper to accomplish. A consideration of the problem leads to the realisation that, in reality, it is seldom necessary that any one ticket issuing station, e.g. one vehicle, should have available more than a fraction of this fare data at any one time. Thus, for example it is sufficient that a vehicle on the road one day shall have fare structures and other details appropriate for just that day on the routes it is to cover. Accordingly, the invention proposes an electronic ticket issuing machine system having central control means, a plurality of ticket-issuing machines, and memory modules which can be supplied with fare data by the central control means and inserted in a ticket issuing machine, the modules receiving ticket sales data from the machine which can be read later by the control means. The memory modules may, for example, be a non-volatile, CMOS memory supported by a small battery. The advantages of the system according to the invention are considerable. The CMOS memory can be re-loaded with the small amount of data needed very rapidly and cheaply. This can therefore be done frequently, usually daily, so that the data used by the ticket machines is always up to date. The invention is described below using as an example an application related to public service vehicle mounted ticket mechines. The system according to the invention shown in the drawing consists of a central computer equipped with storage for a large number of fare tables and a number of ticket machines equipped with plug-in CMOS memory modules having sufficient capacity for those fare tables required during one period of duty. The memory required is therefore a small fraction of that which would be required to store the entire fare structure for an area. The operator, e.g. a bus driver or conductor, selects a memory module, plugs it into the central computer read/write interface and causes data relating to the limited number of fare tables required to be entered from the central computer. This could conveniently be accomplished by entering a duty number specifying the fare tables required for that period of duty of that operator. The memory module would thus be loaded with the required limited fare data required very rapidly (say one second or less). The operator then removes the module from the central computer, carries it to his ticket machine and plugs it into that machine. Thus, only the required fare tables are transferred using only the minimum memory and reducing size and cost to realistic levels. During the duty period, operational data such as ticket sales, routes travelled, timings, concessionary tickets used, and the like, are stored continuously or at intervals in the same memory module by the ticket machine. At the end of the period, the module can be removed, at a convenient time inserted again into the central control means, and the operational data read into the computer. This data can be erased, or simply overwritten in the next duty period. The 'convenient time' may be when the next duty period starts. It will be clear that the data, fare tables, etc., held in the central computer is easily itself up-dated, and thus response to new tariffs, occasional concessionarty fares and the like can be rapid. It is then not necessary to call in all the memory modules for up-dating; this is automatically done by each operator at the start of the next duty roster. The use of such a system can also be envisaged in other fields, e.g. centralised theatre ticket operations. CLAIMS

1. An electronic ticket issuing machine system having central control means, a plurality of ticketissuing machines, and detachable memory modules which can be supplied with fare data by the central control means and inserted in a ticket issuing machine, the modules receiving ticket sales data from the machine which can be read later by the control means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory modules are non-volatile, CMOS memory units, each with a battery.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the storage capacity of the memory module is a small fraction of that of the central control means.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said central control means is responsive to a code, identifying a part of the data held by it, to inject that data into a memory module.

5. An electronic ticket issuing machine system substantially as described herein.