DEVICE FOR MANAGING PASSENGERS AND LUGGAGE FOR A RAIL VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger and baggage management device for a railway vehicle.

[0002] Passengers using a railway vehicle may encounter various problematic situations.

[0003] In particular, it may happen that luggage is stolen or that a passenger forgets luggage when getting off at a station. It may also happen that a passenger boards a railway vehicle that is not the one they booked, or that a passenger gets off at the wrong station.

[0004] Document US 7,030,760 describes an example of a passenger and baggage management device. Document CN101241610A also describes a passenger and baggage management device and in particular the detection of baggage theft.

[0005] The present invention aims in particular to remedy this type of problem, by proposing a passenger management device adapted to prevent such incidents, among other advantages.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates in particular to a device for managing passengers and baggage according to claim 1.

[0007] The management device according to the invention makes it possible to know the location of each traveler and their luggage, by observing the passage of electronic tags through the gates. It is then possible to send an alert to a traveler, in particular when they are affected by one of the problems mentioned above.

[0008] A management device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically conceivable combination. The plurality of electronic gantries comprises at least one second electronic gantry arranged at each interchange passage between two adjacent cars of the railway vehicle. The plurality of electronic gantries comprises at least one third electronic gantry arranged on a platform where the railway vehicle is intended to park, in particular at the entrance or exit of this platform. Each electronic gantry is configured to determine a direction of passage of each electronic tag crossing this electronic gantry, the transmission means being configured to transmit information concerning this direction of passage, with the identifier of the corresponding electronic tag. The management device comprises terminals carried by each traveler, for example smartphones, the alert transmission means being configured to transmit the alerts to the corresponding terminals.Each electronic tag is a radio tag according to RFID radio identification technology. Each electronic tag is associated with at least one of the following information: - whether it is an electronic tag specific to a traveler or to a piece of luggage, - an identity of at least one traveler associated with the electronic tag, and - journey information, in particular the railway vehicle to be used by the electronic tag and / or the arrival station at which the electronic tag must exit the railway vehicle. The management system is configured to perform at least one of the following tasks: - counting the number of travelers and / or pieces of luggage in each car of the railway vehicle, - locating each traveler and / or each piece of luggage in the railway vehicle, - informing an operator when an electronic tag specific to a piece of luggage is far from an electronic tag specific to the associated traveler.

[0009] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the single appended figure schematically representing a railway vehicle equipped with a management device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0010] The figure shows a passenger management device, designated by the general reference 10.

[0011] The passenger management device 10 is associated with at least one railway vehicle 12. The railway vehicle 12 comprises, for example, in a conventional manner, a plurality of aligned cars 14. In the figure, the railway vehicle 12 is shown parked near a platform 16.

[0012] Each car 14 has at least one access door 15, allowing access to the interior of the car 14 from outside the railway vehicle 12. Furthermore, each car 14 is accessible from at least one of the cars adjacent to it through a respective intercommunicating passage 17. For each car 14, the access door 15 and the intercommunicating passage 17 form entrances / exits of this car 14.

[0013] Passengers 18 wishing to take the railway vehicle 12, travel on platform 16 to enter the railway vehicle 12 via one of the access doors 15. Some passengers 18 take with them at least one piece of luggage 20.

[0014] The management device 10 according to the invention comprises electronic tags 22, each having a respective identifier. Each electronic tag 22 is for example a radio tag according to RFID radio identification technology.

[0015] More particularly, the management device 10 comprises, for each traveler 18 and for each item of luggage 20, an electronic label 22 specific to this traveler 18 or this item of luggage 20.

[0016] Each electronic label 22 is for example provided to the associated traveler 18 when reserving a place in the railway vehicle 12, with a view to traveling a journey.

[0017] Various information is associated with each electronic tag 22, including at least one of the following information: Information that the electronic tag 22 is specific to a traveler 18 or to a piece of luggage 20. Information indicating the identity of at least one traveler 18 associated with the electronic tag 22. In particular, an electronic tag 22 specific to a piece of luggage 20 is associated with at least one traveler 18 who owns this piece of luggage. According to another possibility, an electronic tag 22 specific to a child traveler can be associated with at least one traveler 18 accompanying this child. Information concerning the route intended to be traveled by the electronic tag 22, in particular the railway vehicle 12 that the electronic tag 22 must take, and the arrival station at which the electronic tag 22 must exit the railway vehicle 12.

[0018] Other additional information may alternatively be associated with each electronic label 22, in particular the car and the seat reserved by the traveler 18, whether he has reserved first or second class, or any other possible information.

[0019] The management device 10 also comprises a plurality of electronic gates 24, 26, 28, each electronic gate being configured to detect the identifiers of the electronic labels 22 passing through it.

[0020] Advantageously, each electronic gantry 24, 26, 28 is also configured to determine a direction of passage of each electronic label 22 crossing this electronic gantry.

[0021] The plurality of electronic gates comprises a first electronic gate 24 arranged at each access door 15 of the railway vehicle 12. The first electronic gates 24 make it possible to detect the electronic tags 22 entering and leaving the railway vehicle 12.

[0022] It is thus possible to know the number of passengers 18, as well as the number of bags 20, present in the railway vehicle 12, by analyzing the entries and exits of electronic labels 22. Using the identifiers, it is also possible to determine who the passengers are inside the vehicle 12.

[0023] Advantageously, the plurality of electronic gantries comprises a second electronic gantry 26 arranged at each interchange passage 17 between two adjacent cars 14 of the railway vehicle 12.

[0024] These second electronic gates 26 make it possible to know the position of each electronic label 22 in the railway vehicle 12, as a function of the first electronic gate 24 crossed and of the possible second electronic gate(s) 26 crossed.

[0025] Optionally, the plurality of electronic gantries also comprises third electronic gantries 28 arranged on the platform 16, and more particularly at the entrance and exit of this platform 16.

[0026] It is thus possible to know the number of passengers 18 and luggage 20 on platform 16.

[0027] The management device 10 further comprises a central management system 30. In the example described, the central management system 30 is arranged remotely, so that it advantageously allows the management of a plurality of railway vehicles. Alternatively, the central management system 30 could be arranged in the railway vehicle 12.

[0028] The central management system 30 advantageously comprises means for storing said information associated with each electronic label 22, and means for analyzing this information.

[0029] The management device 10 also comprises means 32 for transmitting, from each electronic portal 24, 26, 28 to the central management system 30, the identifiers of the electronic labels 22 passing through this electronic portal 24, 26, 28. These transmission means 32 are for example arranged on the railway vehicle 12, and communicate with each electronic portal 24, 26, 28.

[0030] Advantageously, the transmission means 32 are configured to transmit information concerning the direction of passage of each electronic tag 22 crossing one of the electronic gates 24, 26, 28. This makes it possible to distinguish an entry into the vehicle 12, a car 14 or the platform 16, from an exit from this vehicle 12, a car 14 or the platform 16.

[0031] The central management system 30 is configured to analyze the information thus transmitted, in particular to know the presence and position of each electronic label 22, and advantageously the relative position of the electronic labels 22 associated with the same traveler 18.

[0032] The management device 10 also comprises means 34 for transmitting, from the central management system 30, alerts addressed to each traveler 18 of whom at least one electronic tag 22 associated with this traveler 18 crosses one of the electronic gates 24, 26, 28.

[0033] The management device 10 advantageously comprises terminals, each terminal being carried by a respective traveler 18, capable of receiving alerts relating to this traveler 18. For example, each terminal is a personal smartphone of the corresponding traveler 18. Alternatively, each terminal may be formed by a dedicated electronic object provided to each traveler 18.

[0034] The alert transmission means 34 are then configured to transmit the alerts to the corresponding terminals. It is the central management system 30, by analyzing the data received, which determines whether alerts must be transmitted.

[0035] Receiving such an alert allows traveler 18 to be notified of a problem concerning him, in order to help him resolve it.

[0036] Examples of when an alert is issued are described below.

[0037] An alert is issued when an electronic tag 22 enters the railway vehicle 12 while it is not registered for this railway vehicle 12. This is for example the case when a traveler 18 enters a railway vehicle 12 which is not the one that was planned for his journey. Such an alert can be issued when the electronic tag 22 crosses one of the first electronic gates 24, or alternatively as soon as it crosses the third electronic gate 28. It should be noted that it is necessary to know the characteristics of the journey planned for the electronic tag 22 to issue such an alert.

[0038] An alert is issued when an electronic tag 22 leaves the railway vehicle 12 at a station that does not correspond to the arrival station planned for this electronic tag 22. This is for example the case when a traveler 18 leaves the railway vehicle 12 by going to the wrong arrival station. Such an alert is issued when the electronic tag 22 passes through one of the first electronic gates 24, in a direction of exit from the vehicle 12. According to another example, this alert can also be issued when a piece of luggage 20 is stolen, the luggage 20 then leaving the vehicle when this is not planned. It should be noted that it is necessary to know the characteristics of the journey planned for the electronic tag 22 to issue such an alert.

[0039] An alert is issued when an electronic tag 22 associated with a traveler 18 passes through one of the gates separately from the electronic tag 22 specific to this traveler 18. This is for example the case when a piece of luggage 20, belonging to the traveler 18, is moved without this traveler 18, in particular in the event of theft of this piece of luggage 20. This is also the case when a child accompanying the traveler 18 moves without this traveler 18, for example gets out of the vehicle 12 without the traveler 18.

[0040] An alert is issued when the electronic tag 22 specific to a traveler 18 leaves a car 14 or the railway vehicle 12 separately from at least one other electronic tag 22 associated with this traveler. This is particularly the case when the traveler 18 gets off the vehicle 12 forgetting a piece of luggage 20.

[0041] Advantageously, an alert is issued when the electronic tag 22 specific to a traveler 18 enters a car 14 of the railway vehicle 12, in which case the alert indicates the number of the car 14 in which the traveler 18 is located. The alert could also specify the seat number which is reserved for the traveler 18.

[0042] It should be noted that each alert advantageously specifies the reasons for its issue, so that the traveler 18 concerned knows directly what the problem is.

[0043] The management system 30 may also be configured to perform other tasks, in particular for an operator.

[0044] For example, the management system 30 can count the number of passengers and / or baggage in each car 14 of the railway vehicle 12, depending on the crossings through the first 24 and second 26 gantries, and the directions of these crossings.

[0045] The management system 30 can also locate each passenger 18 and / or each piece of luggage 20 in the railway vehicle 12, depending on the crossings through the second 26 gates.

[0046] The management system 30 can also inform the operator when an electronic tag 22 specific to a piece of baggage 20 is far from a tag specific to the associated traveler 18. Such baggage can thus be considered a suspicious package.

[0047] It is clear that the management device 10 according to the invention makes it possible to prevent problems linked to the theft or forgetting of luggage, and to avoid passenger journey errors, among other advantages.

[0048] It will be noted that the management device 10 according to the invention is not limited to the embodiment previously described, but could have various complementary variants.

[0049] In particular, the management device 10 can be used for the management of a plurality of railway vehicles.

[0050] It should be noted that the management device 10 according to the invention does not allow the passengers 18 to be located more than necessary, but only inside the railway vehicle 12 or on the platform. The privacy of the passengers 18 is therefore maintained.

Claims

1. An assembly of a railway vehicle (12) comprising a plurality of cars (14), and a device (10) for managing travelers (18) and baggage (20), the management device comprising: - for each traveler (18) and for each piece of baggage (20), an electronic tag (22) specific to this traveler (18) or this piece of baggage (20), each electronic tag (22) having a respective identifier and being associated with information, and each electronic tag (22) in particular being associated with at least one traveler (18), - for each traveler (18), a portable terminal carried by this traveler (18); - a plurality of electronic gantries (24, 26, 28), each gantry (24, 26, 28) being configured to detect the identifiers of the electronic tags (22) crossing it, - a central management system (30) comprising means for analyzing information relating to each electronic tag (22), - means (32) for transmitting, from each electronic gantry (24, 26, 28) to the central management system (30), identifiers of the electronic tags (22) crossing this electronic gantry (24, 26, 28), - means (34) for transmitting, from the central management system (30), alerts addressed to the portable terminal of each traveler (18) whose electronic tag (22) associated with this traveler (18) crosses an electronic gantry (24, 26, 28), characterized in that each access door (15) of each car (14) of the railway vehicle (12) comprises one (24) of the electronic gantries (24, 26, 28), and in that the central management system (30) is configured so that the alert issuing means (32) issue an alert in each of the following cases: - an electronic tag (22) enters the railway vehicle (12) while it is not registered for this railway vehicle (12), - an electronic tag (22) leaves the railway vehicle (12) at a station that does not correspond to an arrival station provided for this electronic tag (22), - an electronic tag (22) associated with a traveler (18) crosses an electronic gantry (24, 26, 28) separately from the electronic tag (22) specific to this traveler (18), - the electronic tag (22) specific to a traveler (22) leaves a car (14) or the railway vehicle (12) separately from at least one other electronic tag (22) associated with this traveler (22), the electronic tag (22) specific to a traveler (18) enters a car (14) of the railway vehicle (12), in which case the alert indicates a number of the corresponding car (14).

2. The assembly according to claim 1, comprising gangways (17) between the cars (14) of each pair of two adjacent cars, each gangway (17) comprising at least one (26) of the electronic gantries.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one (28) of the electronic gantries (24, 26, 28) is arranged on a platform (16) where the railway vehicle (12) is intended to park, in particular at the entrance or exit of this platform (16).

4. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each electronic gantry (24, 26, 28) is configured to determine a direction of passage of each electronic tag (22) crossing this electronic gantry (24, 26, 28), the transmission means (32) being configured to transmit information concerning this direction of passage, with the identifier of the corresponding electronic tag (22).

5. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the terminals are smartphones.

6. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each electronic tag (22) is a radio-tag according to the RFID radio-identification technology.

7. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each electronic tag (22) is associated with at least one of the following information items: - if it is an electronic tag (22) specific to a traveler (18) or baggage (20), - an identity of at least one traveler (18) associated with the electronic tag (22), - journey information, in particular the railway vehicle (12) to be taken by the electronic tag (22) and / or the arrival station at which the electronic tag (22) must leave the railway vehicle (12).

8. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the management system (30) is configured to perform at least one of the following tasks: - counting the number of travelers (18) and / or pieces of baggage (20) in each car (14) of the railway vehicle, - locating each traveler (18) and / or each piece of baggage (20) in the railway vehicle (12), - informing an operator when an electronic tag (22) specific to a piece of baggage (20) is remote from an electronic tag (22) specific to the associated traveler (18).