JP2009054157A - Terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it has become possible to adjust various railway and bus fares by the use of SUICA (R) and PASMO (R), while there is no means to automatically recognize a route including complicated transfers. <P>SOLUTION: A route is traced using a GPS function of a mobile terminal such as a Mobile SUICA (R), and information used for estimating a route from an origin to a destination is recorded. Accurate fare is charged by using the position data in fare adjustment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device with an electronic money function.

  In recent years, portable terminal devices having an electronic money function have become widespread and can be used for fee settlement in automatic ticket gates such as railways. The portable terminal device may be a card type that can be supplied with power from the outside, a mobile phone, and the like, for example, SUICA (registered trademark), PASMO (registered trademark), mobile SUICA (registered trademark), etc. It has been.

  However, in the charge settlement by this method, it may not be possible to charge a correct charge to a user who has changed over a complicated route. In other words, if there are multiple routes (routes and train types) from the departure point to the destination, enter the route you used manually, charge the cheapest route, charge the most common route, There was no choice but to set up a ticket gate at each possible station and detect a transfer. For the train type, it was necessary to check the ticket in the car.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can charge and / or collect charges correctly regardless of the route the user uses. .

  The terminal device according to the present invention always (or periodically) acquires position information of the device itself, and records information for estimating the route the user has reached from the departure point to the destination. Accurate billing is possible by using the position data at the time of settlement.

  As a method for the terminal device to acquire its own position information, for example, a GPS (global positioning system) is used. When the terminal device is a mobile phone or a PHS (personal handyphone system), it is possible to use radio waves transmitted from the base station.

  In this way, the terminal device acquires and records its position information constantly or periodically. The position information recorded in this way is passed to the settlement terminal (automatic ticket gate in the case of railways) at the time of fee settlement. The checkout terminal identifies the route of the terminal device from the received position information, calculates its fee, and charges. The terminal device may transmit the position information to the settlement system using communication means such as radio waves simultaneously with the acquisition of the position information.

  At this time, the checkout terminal may obtain a route map (route information data) from the server as necessary. Further, the checkout terminal may perform the server without specifying the route.

First embodiment

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a user is using a mobile terminal device in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of each component.

  The portable terminal device 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a GPS receiving unit 13, a clock 14, a RAM 15, a display device (not shown), and an input device (not shown). The ROM 12 stores a unique identification number (terminal ID) for each terminal and a program for realizing the present invention. The GPS receiving unit 13 includes a GPS antenna and a signal processing circuit, receives and analyzes radio waves from the artificial satellite 3, and calculates coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude). The RAM 15 is used for recording a set of coordinates (route information) obtained from the GPS receiver unit 13 and a time obtained from the clock 14 by a program.

  The automatic ticket gates 4A and 4B are composed of CPUs 41A and 42B, ROMs 42A and 42B, clocks 43A and 43B, and a display device (not shown). The automatic ticket gates 4 </ b> A and 4 </ b> B have a function of performing two-way communication with the mobile terminal device 1 without contact, and can perform two-way communication through the server 5 and the network 9. In the ROM 42A of the first automatic ticket gate 4A, the station ID of the first station (in this embodiment, since the first station is the departure place, the station ID of the first station is hereinafter referred to as the entrance station ID). Is called). In the ROM 42B of the second automatic ticket gate 4B, the station ID of the second station (in this embodiment, since the second station is the destination, the station ID of the second station is referred to as the participating station ID thereafter). These station IDs that are recorded) are transmitted to the server 5 together with the terminal ID received from the mobile terminal device 1 and the time acquired from the clock 43A or 43B (the entry time and the entry time, respectively). The

The server 5 includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52, and a RAM 53. The ROM 52 stores a route map and a program for carrying out the present invention. This route map shows a set of terminal ID, entrance station ID, entrance time, entry station ID, entry time received from the automatic ticket gates 4A and 4B in the RAM 53 used for calculating the boarding fee, and the terminal's Route information can be stored. The CPU 51 calculates a boarding fee from the route map terminal ID, entrance station ID, entrance time, exit station ID, entry time, and route information, and transmits it to the automatic ticket gate 4B.

When using the railway, the user 2 first places the portable terminal device 1 on the automatic ticket gate 4A at the first station (departure point). The automatic ticket gate 4A requests the mobile terminal device 1 for a terminal ID. The CPU 11 of the portable terminal device 1 starts a program stored in the ROM 12 in response to a request. The program communicates the terminal ID stored in the ROM 12 to the automatic ticket gate 4A. The CPU 41A of the automatic ticket checker 4A transmits the received terminal ID, the first station identification number (entrance station ID) stored in the ROM 42A, and the time acquired from the clock 43A to the server 5 through the network 9. The server 5 stores the received terminal ID, entrance station ID, and entrance time as a set in the RAM 53. At this time, if the time of the clock 14 of the portable terminal device 1 and the time of the clock 43A of the automatic ticket gate 4A are different, the deviation may be sent to the server 5.

  When the mobile terminal device 1 is not a device dedicated to this embodiment, the program is executed in the background. When the mobile terminal device 1 is, for example, a mobile phone, the user 2 can use calls, e-mails, and / or other functions using the display device and the input device without being aware of the existence of the program.

  The program executed by the CPU 11 acquires the coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the current location from the GPS receiving unit 13 and acquires the time from the clock 14 periodically, for example, once every five minutes. Time and coordinates are sequentially recorded in the RAM 15. When GPS radio waves cannot be received (for example, when the user 2 is underground or in a tunnel), if the mobile terminal device 1 is a mobile phone or PHS, radio waves from a base station installed in the underground or tunnel are not received. It may be used to specify the position of the mobile terminal device 1. In this case, for example, the coordinates of the base station are used as the coordinate data.

  Thereafter, the user 2 gets on the train 6 and goes to the second station (destination). The route from the first station to the second station includes the first route 7 and the second route 8. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user 2 has selected the first route 7.

  At the second station, the user 2 gets off the train 6 and places the mobile terminal device 1 on the automatic ticket gate 4B in order to enter the station. The mobile terminal device 1 transmits all the route information recorded in the RAM 15, that is, the array of {time, coordinates}, to the automatic ticket gate 4B. The automatic ticket gate 4B transmits the route information received from the portable terminal device 1 to the server 5, together with the terminal ID, the second station identification number (participating station ID), and the time acquired from the clock 42B.

  The server 5 estimates the first route 7 that is the route that the user 2 has taken from the terminal ID, the entry station ID, the entry station ID, the route information, and the route map stored in the ROM 52 (of the estimation algorithm). An example is given later). The server 5 calculates a fee for the estimated route and returns it to the automatic ticket gate 4B.

  The automatic ticket gate 4B notifies the user 2 by displaying the received fee on the screen. The server 5 performs a process of debiting the bank account fee of the user 2 or a process of subtracting from the charged amount.

  Here, an algorithm for estimating a route will be described. For example, the route map is obtained by recording a large number of coordinates (for example, every 100 meters) of the passing points of each route. Specifically, it can be handled as a two-dimensional array composed of a set of {route ID, coordinates}. Since the route information can be handled as a two-dimensional array composed of a set of {time and coordinates}, it is possible to calculate the Euclidean distance between the coordinates of the route map and the coordinates of the route information. When there are only two routes as in this embodiment, the average distance between the first route 7 and the average distance between the second route 8 is calculated and can be estimated by comparing the sizes. Become. The average distance from the first route 7 is the average of the Euclidean distances selected from the coordinates of the route map whose route ID is the first route 7 for each coordinate of the route information. is there. The average distance from the second route 8 can be calculated in the same manner.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the mobile terminal device 1 periodically receives GPS radio waves from the artificial satellite 3 to record its position and pass the information to the server 5, so that the server 5 Realizes that the route through which the user 2 has passed (the first route 7) is estimated and the correct fee is calculated. When the mobile terminal device 1 is a mobile phone or PHS, the location may be specified using the radio wave from the base station instead of using the GPS radio wave, or the GPS radio wave and the radio wave from the base station may be used. You may use together. In recent years, since base stations are often installed in subway stations, position information can be acquired even in subways where GPS cannot be used by using radio waves from the base stations.

  Further, since the server 5 obtains the {time, coordinate} arrangement, it is possible to calculate the moving speed (section average speed) of the user 2. This makes it possible to identify not only the route estimation but also the type of train (whether it is a train that requires an additional charge such as a limited express) and collect the additional charge. In this case, if it is necessary to consider the delay of the train, the operation history of the train on that day is separately acquired and used. In addition, when there is a contradiction in data and the server 5 cannot calculate the charge, it is urged to go to a window where an attendant is present.

Second embodiment

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, there are only two routes (routes) from the first station to the second station, and there is no problem if the routes are sufficiently separated, When there are many routes from one station to the second station, the calculation amount of the server 5 becomes enormous, and the user 2 automatically charges the fee while he / she puts the mobile terminal device 1 on the automatic ticket gate 4B. Transmission to the ticket gate 4B is not realistic. In the case of FIG. 1, the coordinates need only be acquired once in the middle (at an appropriate position).

  The second embodiment solves these problems. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, focusing on differences from the first embodiment. The portable terminal device 1B of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 stores a route map in addition to the terminal ID and the program in the ROM 12B. This route map is a two-dimensional array given as a set of {route ID, coordinates} in the same format as that stored in the ROM by the server 5 in the first embodiment. The ROM 12B is a flash ROM, for example, and can be electrically rewritten. A set of {time, route ID} is stored in the RAM 15B.

  When the user 2 places the portable terminal device 1 on the automatic ticket gate 4A at the first station (departure point), in this embodiment, in addition to the data delivered in the first embodiment, the portable terminal device 1 The version number of the route map stored in the ROM 12B is passed from the portable terminal device 1 to the automatic ticket gate 4A. The automatic ticket checker 4A requests the server 5 for the version number of the route map recorded in the ROM 52 of the server 5, receives it, and compares it with the version number received from the mobile terminal device 1. The automatic ticket gate 4A may cache the version number of the route map held by the server 5 and update it periodically.

  If the version numbers are different, the mobile terminal device 1 updates the route map. The update may be based on downloading a route map possessed by the server 5 via the automatic ticket gate 4A. When the mobile terminal device 1 is a mobile phone or the like, the communication function is used. Then, it may be obtained by downloading from the server 5 or another server via the communication network.

  While the user 2 is on the train 6, the mobile terminal device 1 periodically acquires the current time and the coordinates of the current location from the clock 14 and the GPS receiving unit 13, as in the first implementation mobile phone. The frequency is higher than that of the first mobile phone (for example, once every 5 seconds). The portable terminal device 1 compares the obtained coordinates with the coordinates of the route map recorded in the ROM 12B, and estimates the route ID on which the user 2 is on board. If the estimated route ID is the same as the route ID estimated from the previous coordinates (5 seconds before), the data is not recorded in the RAM 15B, and only when different, the data of {time, route ID} is stored in the RAM 15B. Record. That is, the route ID is recorded only immediately after the user 2 changes trains. The user 2 may give a scheduled route to the mobile terminal device 1 in advance and use it as a hint.

  When the user 2 places the mobile terminal device 1 on the automatic ticket gate 4B at the second station (destination), the mobile terminal device 1 stores the route information recorded in the RAM 15B, that is, {time, route ID}. Transfer an array of formats. The automatic ticket gate 4B transmits the route information received from the portable terminal device 1 to the server 5, together with the terminal ID, the second station identification number (participating station ID), and the time acquired from the clock 42B.

  The server 5 can receive data not in the format of {time, coordinates} but in the format of {time, route ID}, so that the charge can be calculated more quickly than in the case of the first embodiment. The route map of the ROM 12B of the mobile terminal device 1 includes a record of {station ID, coordinate} pair in addition to {route ID, coordinate} pair, and whenever the user 2 detects that it has arrived at the station, { Data in the format of time, station ID} may be recorded in the RAM 15B. By doing so, the charges can be calculated more reliably. It is preferable that the route ID and the station ID can be easily distinguished. For example, when the route ID and the station ID are handled as signed integers, it can be easily determined by setting the route ID as a negative number and the station ID as a positive number.

Third embodiment

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a toll road toll collection system, and differences from the second embodiment will be described. The user 2 passes the entrance gate 4C of the starting toll road by the automobile 6B. At that time, the mobile terminal device 1 communicates with the entrance gate 4C. Similarly to the second embodiment, the entrance gate 4C receives the terminal ID from the mobile terminal device 1 and sends it to the server 5 together with its own ID.

  In the usage consideration 2, the first toll road 7B is selected from the first toll road 7B and the second toll road 8B by the car 6B, and the destination is reached. During this time, since the mobile terminal device 1 stores the route map of the toll road as in the second embodiment, the mobile terminal device 1 acquires its own coordinates from the GPS receiving unit 13 and collates with the route map, and {time, route ID} Record in the format. When the user 2 passes through the destination gate 4D, the mobile terminal device 1 communicates with the gate 4D. Similarly to the second embodiment, the entrance gate 4C receives the terminal ID and the route information from the mobile terminal device 1 and sends them to the server 5 together with its own ID. The server 5 charges the usage fee for the route 7B used by the user 2.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the route can be estimated in the same manner as in the case of a railway, so that it is not necessary to provide a tollgate at an interchange or junction where transfer is possible. In the case of the third embodiment, the mobile terminal device 1 may be an in-vehicle terminal device installed in the automobile 6B.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to estimate the route used by the user 2 and charge the correct fee even if there are a plurality of routes to the destination. Further, since the route information is recorded, it is possible to prevent an illegal act such as exchanging the portable terminal device with another person on the way.

  Note that the portable terminal device according to the present invention can be applied to a card type as long as it has an electronic money function, a position acquisition means, and a means for recording the position. ) Can also be applied.

It is the figure which showed typically the usage method of the portable terminal device and payment system which concern on 1st Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal device 2 User 3 Artificial satellite 4A First station automatic ticket gate 4B Second station automatic ticket gate 5 Server 6 Train 7 First route 8 Second route 9 Network

FIG.

It is a block diagram of the portable terminal device and payment system which concern on 1st Embodiment.

FIG.

It is a block diagram of the portable terminal device and payment system which concern on 2nd Embodiment.
1 Mobile terminal device 11 CPU of mobile terminal device
12 ROM of portable terminal device
13 GPS receiving unit 14 Clock of portable terminal device 15 RAM of portable terminal device
2 User 3 Artificial satellite 4A Automatic ticket gate 41A at the first station CPU of automatic ticket gate
42A Automatic ticket gate ROM
42A Automatic ticket gate clock 4B Second station automatic ticket gate 41B Automatic ticket gate CPU
42B Automatic ticket gate ROM
42B Automatic ticket gate clock 5 Server 51 Server CPU
52 Server ROM
53 Server RAM
6 Train 7 First route 8 Second route

FIG.

It is the figure which showed typically the usage method of the portable terminal device and adjustment system which concern on 3rd Embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal device 2 User 3 Artificial satellite 4A First ticket gate 4B Second station ticket 5 Server 6 Train 7B First toll road 8B Second toll road 9 Network

Claims (9)

  A terminal device comprising an electronic money function, comprising means for specifying a user's location (first coordinate).   Means for storing the first coordinates, and passes the first coordinates to a billing device at the time of fee settlement; the billing device estimates the route of the user from the first coordinates and charges system.   The fee settlement system according to claim 2, wherein the means for specifying the first coordinates is based on GPS and / or radio waves from a base station.   4. The fee settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the route is a public transportation or a toll road.   5. The fee settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the public transportation is a bus or a railroad.   The first coordinates are stored in the storage means together with the time when the first coordinates are acquired, and the user's movement trajectory and section average speed are estimated, the type of bus or train is determined, 6. The fee settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the additional fee is charged when an additional fee is required in addition to the boarding fee.   7. The fee settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes means for storing a route map.   The route map is a table including at least {route ID, coordinates of a passing point (second coordinates)} and / or {station ID, coordinates of a passing point (second coordinates)}, and the terminal device. Is provided with a function of searching for a route ID closest to the first coordinate among the second coordinates of the route map and obtaining a route ID paired with the second coordinate. Item 8. The fee settlement system according to items 1-7.   9. The fee settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device stores in the storage means only when the route ID is different from that obtained immediately before.

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