WO2022167618A1

WO2022167618A1 - Housing and method for requesting that a bus stops

Info

Publication number: WO2022167618A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/052777
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohammed RAHMI
Original assignee: Rahmi Mohammed
Priority date: 2021-02-05
Filing date: 2022-02-04
Publication date: 2022-08-11
Also published as: FR3119721A1; FR3119721B1

Abstract

Housing (1) intended to placed in a bus, the housing (1) comprising: - a local server (4), - a WiFi module (5) capable of connecting a portable device (3) to the local server (4) of the housing (1), characterised in that it comprises means for connecting the local server to a circuit (8) for requesting that the bus stops, which allows a user to request that the bus stops via the portable device (3), and in that the connection between the WiFi module (5) and the portable device (3) is made using a captive portal technique.

Description

Bus stop request box and method.

The present invention relates to a box allowing the request to stop a bus via the portable device of a user. It also relates to a method implementing said box in order to request the stopping of the bus via a user's portable device.

Such a device allows the user not to get up to ask for the bus to stop at the next station. The technical field is more particularly that of remote-controlled electronic boxes.

State of the prior art

Currently, the bus ridership rate continues to increase. Despite the adaptation of transport companies to meet customer needs, it is sometimes difficult to take the bus during peak hours. Users have to travel in bad conditions, which are sometimes even dangerous.

There are many mobile applications for obtaining information on bus schedules, problems or delays encountered on bus lines. However, in most cases, it is necessary to download an application beforehand to have access to the services offered, which can be a problem for the user due to memory space concerns on their mobile phone or simply due to time constraints. or internet connection.

A user cannot predict the number of people on the bus line he is using and sometimes finds himself on a bus whose maximum authorized capacity of people has been reached. In this situation, it is difficult for the user to move around on the bus without taking risks or disturbing other users to request the bus stop at the next station by pressing the dedicated button.

There is therefore a need to secure and facilitate the journey of a user in such circumstances.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks with a remote control box for the bus stop request.

Another object of the present invention is to provide several services facilitating the user's journey.

At least one object of the invention is achieved with a box intended to be placed in a bus, the box comprising:
- a local server,
- a WIFI module capable of connecting a portable device to the local server of the box
the method comprises means for connecting the local server to a bus stop request circuit allowing a user to request the stop of the bus via the portable device.

The box then allows the user to request that the bus stop at the next station without having to move around in the bus, which is sometimes dangerous when it is still in motion. In addition, the invention also allows the user to be protected against the transmission of viruses since he is no longer obliged to press a non-disinfected bus stop request button to request the stop of the bus. Advantageously, this device does not require the installation of an application, which allows the user to have direct access to the services offered on his portable device.

Advantageously, the box can be configured to be connected to a remote server. The remote server can be configured to identify the box and/or activate the box's WIFI module and/or deactivate the box's WIFI module and/or send user services to the local server.

The remote server allows the box to be identified and initialized. The term "initialized", authorized or not to broadcast a WIFI network in the bus, broadcast different services to users. This initialization can be implemented when the box is started or during the day if the customer service department wants to distribute a new service to users or carry out a satisfaction survey, for example.

The local server can be configured to send at least one of the following additional user services to the portable device when connected to the box's WIFI module:
- schedule a stop,
- explore the bus line,
- pay for his trip,
- respond to a satisfaction survey and/or give an opinion,
- leave.

The "bus stop request" service allows the user to request the bus stop at the next station.

The "schedule a stop" service allows the user to schedule his stop request at a specific station and therefore avoid missing his station.

The "explore the bus line" service allows the user to find his way around during his trip and/or to be able to plan his trip. This service also allows the user to be informed about cultural, sporting, commercial or any other events located on the bus line that the user takes.

The "pay your ride" service allows the user to pay for their trip directly via their mobile device, avoiding queuing at the front of the bus during heavy traffic.

The "respond to a satisfaction survey and/or give an opinion" service allows the user to give his opinion on the service offered. The answers will be processed by the customer service allowing a constant improvement of the services made available.

The "exit" service allows you to disconnect the portable device from the WIFI network.

The user can have access to the different services at the same time allowing him to optimize the actions he wishes to carry out.

The local server can also be configured to receive user responses from the portable device and/or send user responses to the remote server when the portable device is connected to the WIFI module.

The remote server can be configured to update the box. The update allows you to activate or deactivate the broadcast of the WIFI network of the WIFI module but also to change the user services broadcast. The remote server can therefore adapt the content broadcast on the portable device by the local server according to various parameters such as: the bus line, the timetables, the rate of user affluence. The update can be carried out at any time of the day or when the bus is brought back to the depot for example. The remote server has full control over the local server when the local server is connected to the remote server.

Advantageously, the box can include a 4G connection module. The 4G connection module allows the box to be identified by the remote server.

The box can be wired to the bus stop request circuit or to the bus on-board computer. Being connected directly to the on-board computer of the bus allows the box to be protected from possible damage. The direct connection to the on-board computer of the bus also allows an optimization of the electrical connections and a better safety of the installation.

The box can also be connected by wireless transmission to a relay, the relay being connected to the bus stop request circuit. The wireless connection between the box and the bus stop request circuit allows the box to be installed anywhere on the bus when the technical specifics of the bus do not allow the box to be installed near the circuit bus stop request.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is proposed a method for requesting a stoppage of a bus implemented by a box comprising a local server, a WIFI module able to connect a portable device to the local server of the box and means for connecting the local server to a bus stop request circuit, the method comprises the following steps:

- connection of the portable device to the local server via the WIFI module,

- sending of a bus stop request user service by the local server to the portable device,

- reception of a user request to stop the bus by the local server,

- bus stop request sent by the local server to the bus stop request circuit.

The method may include a step of sending at least one of the following additional user services by the local server to the portable device when connecting the portable device to the WIFI module:

- schedule a stop,

- explore the bus line,

- pay for his trip,

- respond to a satisfaction survey,

- leave.

Advantageously, the method may comprise the following steps:

- identification of the box by the remote server,

- activation of the wifi module of the box by the server saying,

- deactivation of the wifi module of the box by the remote server,

- sends user services to the local server by the remote server.

The method may include the following steps when the portable device is connected to the WIFI module:

- receipt of user responses from the portable device by the local server,

- sends user responses to the remote server via the local server.

The method may include a step of updating the box by the remote server.

The method may include a step of connecting the remote server to the local server by the 4G connection module when the box includes a 4G connection module. The method can include any other means of communication between the local server and the remote server.

Advantageously, the method can comprise a step of sending an electric pulse to the bus stop control circuit by the box when the box is connected by wire to the bus stop request circuit or to the board the bus.

The method may include a step of sending a signal to the bus stop request circuit when the box is connected by wireless transmission to a relay, the relay being connected to the bus stop request circuit.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a computer program product is proposed comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the method. The computer program may also include connection protocols and configuration methods. The computer program may comprise a set of elements, the set of elements being composed of at least one of the following elements:

- system files,

- configuration and parameterization files,

- security files

- as well as an internal database.

Description of figures and embodiments

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and non-limiting embodiments, and of the following appended drawings:

illustrates a schematic representation of a box according to the invention,

illustrates a schematic representation of a box positioned in a bus according to the invention,

illustrates a general schematic representation of the operation of the box arranged in a bus according to the invention,

illustrates a schematic representation of the operation of the remote server according to the invention,

illustrates a connection by wireless transmission of the box with the stop request circuit of a bus according to the invention,

illustrates a wired connection of the box with the stop request circuit of a bus according to the invention,

illustrates a wired connection of the box with the on-board computer of a bus according to the invention.

These embodiments being in no way limiting, variants of the invention may in particular be considered comprising only a selection of characteristics described or illustrated below isolated from the other characteristics described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other features), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional feature without structural details, and/or with only part of the structural details if only this part is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art anterior.

We will describe, with reference to the , a schematic representation of the box according to the invention.

Box 1 is made up of a motherboard 9 equipped with a microprocessor, random access memory (RAM) and a dedicated computer system (not shown in the figure). The motherboard 9 comprises a local server 4, a WIFI module 5, a 4G connection module having the reference 6, a wired connection module 10, a Bluetooth connection module 11 and a speaker 12. The motherboard 9 is arranged and/or programmed to manage and operate all the modules. The WIFI module 5 is arranged and/or programmed to broadcast a WIFI network. The 4G connection module 6 and/or the wired connection module 10 of the box 1 are configured so that the box 1 connects to a remote server 2. The wired connection module 10 comprises an RJ45 wired connection configured to replace the 4G connection 6 when it is faulty, for example. The remote server 2 is programmed by a customer service 7. The box 1 is a thermoplastic polymer or impact-resistant plastic box. Case 1 includes vent holes on at least two sides. The box 1 also has internal guides and studs for fixing the motherboard 9 and the necessary modules. Case 1 also includes holes and slots for connectors on one of its facades. Case 1 measures 17 cm in length and 12 cm in width with a thickness of 5 cm. These dimensions are scalable.

We will now describe with reference to the , a schematic representation of the box positioned in a bus according to the invention.

The box 1 is arranged in a bus. More precisely, the box 1 is directly connected to the bus stop request circuit 8 or to one of the bus stop request buttons. The wired connection between the box and the bus stop request circuit is shown in . Several other connection possibilities of the box 1 are possible. In some cases, box 1 is connected to stop request circuit 8 of the bus via a BLE relay, i.e. "Bluetooth Low Energy" as shown in or directly wired to the bus on-board computer as shown in . The Bluetooth connection (see ) between box 1 and the bus stop request circuit replaces the wired connection between box 1 and the bus stop request circuit 8 (see ) and/or the bus on-board computer (see ) when the wired connection is faulty, for example. In this case, the Bluetooth connection is made via the Bluetooth module 11 of the motherboard 9 of the box 1. Conversely, the wired connection between the box 1 and the stop request circuit 8 of the bus and/or the The bus on-board computer replaces the Bluetooth connection between the box 1 and the stop request circuit 8 of the bus when the Bluetooth connection is faulty.

The remote server 2 initiates the box 1. The user on the bus can then connect to the WIFI network broadcast by the WIFI module 5 of the box 1 via a portable device 3 to request the stop of the bus.

We will detail with reference to the , the operation of the box arranged in a bus according to the invention.

Once the box 1 is connected to the stop request circuit 8 of the bus as shown in , box 1 connects to remote server 2 via the 4G connection module. The remote server 2 identifies the box 1 and authorizes the broadcasting of the WIFI network as well as the user services defined beforehand by the customer service 7 on the bus. The WIFI module 5 broadcasts a WIFI network in the bus and is therefore capable of receiving user connections.

The name of the WIFI network is personalized to be easily recognized by users on the bus. In the event that box 1 must be disconnected or that the services broadcast on portable device 3 must change, an update is sent to local server 4 by remote server 2.

The user installed in the bus connects to the WIFI network of the WIFI module 5 via his portable device 3. The connection between the WIFI module 5 and the portable device 3 is made using a captive portal technique. The portable device is a mobile phone which is generally a "smartphone" type mobile phone or a digital tablet equipped with a WIFI connection module or a laptop computer equipped with a WIFI connection module.

The portable device 3 is connected to the local server 4 via the WIFI module 5. The local server 4 of the box 1 sends the various user services to the portable device 3 of the user. The services are presented to the user in the form of a home page (not shown in the figures) appearing on the user's portable device 3 as soon as the WIFI connection is established between the portable device 3 and the WIFI module 5. The homepage has several virtual buttons such as "stop requested", "schedule a stop", "explore my bus route", "pay my ride", "take a satisfaction survey", "exit" for example. Each service is represented by a virtual button on the home page. The user clicks on the virtual button corresponding to the service he wishes to access. The services are not limited to the list described above.

In the case of the “requested stop” service, the user clicks on the “requested stop” virtual button. The portable device 3 sends a request to the local server 4. The local server 4 processes the request and the box 1 sends an electric pulse to the stop request circuit 8 of the bus. The request to stop the bus is carried out as if the user had just pressed the button. In the case presented to the , the local server 4 sends the user request received by the local server 4 as a signal to the BLE relay. The BLE relay receives the signal and sends an electric pulse to the stop request circuit 8 of the bus. In the case of the , the local server 4 processes the user request and the box 1 sends the electric pulse directly to the on-board computer of the bus.

For the "schedule a stop", "explore my bus route" or "pay my trip" services, a second page is automatically opened on the user's portable device 3 when the user clicks on one of the three virtual buttons .

In the case of the "respond to a satisfaction survey" service, the user clicks on the virtual button "respond to a satisfaction survey". A second page opens on the portable device 3 of the user inviting him to complete the proposed satisfaction survey. Once the satisfaction survey has been completed and terminated, the user's responses are sent to the local server 4. According to FIGS. 3 and 4, the local server 4 of the unit 1 transmits the user responses to the remote server 2 so that the responses are processed and/or studied by customer service 7. Satisfaction surveys or polls are designed beforehand by customer service 7 and implemented in the remote server 2.

The customer service 7 also creates voice messages which are sent to the local server 4 and broadcast over the loudspeaker 12 of the motherboard 9 of the box 1 to inform the users of the presence of the various services on the bus and invite them to connect to the WIFI network broadcast via their portable device 3 to access the services.

If the user clicks on the virtual "exit" button, the home page displayed on portable device 3 is automatically closed and portable device 3 is disconnected from the WIFI network. If the user gets off the bus without closing the home page, the portable device 3 is automatically disconnected from the WIFI network.

In a second embodiment, a second WIFI network is broadcast by a second WIFI module for the connection needs specific to a user application offered to users to configure and/or automate their connections each time they are on the bus and close to the box. The second WIFI is invisible and secured by a password for automatic connection needs which are managed by the user application for the same content and the same services.

In this case, the user connects manually with the first WIFI network or automatically or semi-automatically with the second WIFI network.

The second WIFI module can be implemented and used alone. It is not excluded to add another WIFI network.

Typically at least one of the means of the device according to the invention described above, preferably each of the means of the device according to the invention described above are technical means.

Typically, each of the means of the device according to the invention previously described may comprise at least one computer, a central or calculation unit, an analog electronic circuit (preferably dedicated), a digital electronic circuit (preferably dedicated), and/or a microprocessor (preferably dedicated), and/or dedicated software means.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Of course, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Box (1) intended to be placed in a bus, the box (1) comprising:
- a local server (4),
- a WIFI module (5) capable of connecting a portable device (3) to the local server (4) of the box (1),
characterized in that it comprises means for connecting the local server to a stop request circuit (8) of the bus allowing a user to request the stop of the bus via the portable device (3)
and in that the connection between the WIFI module (5) and the portable device (3) is made using a captive portal technique.
Box according to Claim 1, characterized in that the local server (4) is configured to send at least one of the following additional user services to the portable device (3) during its connection to the WIFI module (5) of the box (1 ):
- schedule a stop,
- explore the bus line,
- pay for his trip,
- respond to a satisfaction survey and/or give an opinion,
- leave.
Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (1) is configured to be connected to a remote server (2).
Box according to Claim 3, characterized in that the remote server (2) is configured to identify the box (1) and/or activate the WIFI module (5) of the box (1) and/or deactivate the WIFI module (5) of the box (1) and/or send the user services to the local server (4).
Box according to any one of Claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the local server (4) is configured to receive user responses from the portable device (3) and/or send the user responses to the remote server (2 ) when the portable device (3) is connected to the WIFI module (5).
Box according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the remote server (2) is configured to update the box (1).
Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (1) comprises a 4G connection module (6).
Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (1) is connected by wire to the stop request circuit (8) of the bus or to the on-board computer of the bus.
Box according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the box (1) is connected by wireless transmission to a relay, the relay being connected to the stop request circuit (8) of the bus.
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus implemented by a box (1) comprising a local server (4), a WIFI module (5) capable of connecting a portable device (3) to the local server (4) of the box (1) and means for connecting the local server to a bus stop request circuit, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
- connection of the portable device (3) to the local server (4) via the WIFI module (5),
- sending of a bus stop request user service by the local server (4) to the portable device (3),
- reception of a user request to stop the bus by the local server (4),
- bus stop request sent by the local server (4) to the bus stop request circuit.
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to claim 10, characterized in that the method comprises a step of sending at least one of the following additional user services by the local server (4) to the portable device ( 3) when connecting the portable device (3) to the WIFI module (5):
- schedule a stop,
- explore the bus line,
- pay for his trip,
- respond to a satisfaction survey and/or give an opinion,
- leave.
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to any one of Claims 10 to 11, the box (1) also comprising a remote server (2), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
- identification of the box (1) by the remote server (2),
- activation of the wifi module (5) of the box (1) by the server saying (2),
- deactivation of the wifi module (5) of the box (1) by the remote server (2),
- sends user services to the local server (4) by the remote server (2).
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to claim 12, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps when the portable device (3) is connected to the WIFI module (5):
- receipt of user responses from the portable device (3) by the local server (4),
- sends user responses to the remote server (2) via the local server (4).
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to any one of Claims 12 to 13, characterized in that the method comprises a step of updating the box (1) by the remote server (2).
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, the box (1) comprising a 4G connection module (6), characterized in that the method comprises a step of connecting the remote server ( 2) to the local server (4) by the 4G connection module (6).
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to any one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the method comprises a step of sending an electric pulse to the stoppage control circuit of the bus by the box ( 1) when the box is connected by wire to the stop request circuit (8) of the bus or to the on-board computer of the bus.
Method for requesting a stoppage of a bus according to any one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the method comprises a step of sending a signal to the circuit for requesting a stoppage of the bus when the box (1 ) is connected by wireless transmission to a relay, the relay being connected to the stop request circuit (8) of the bus.
Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the method according to any one of Claims 10 to 17.