Method for monitoring the occupancy of a vehicle by passengers and corresponding devices

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the occupancy of vehicle seats by passengers. The present invention also relates to a reading light for a vehicle seat and to an associated communication device.

[0002] It is known that the control of the occupancy of the seats of a vehicle, particularly a railway vehicle, is carried out by an agent dedicated to this function. Such a control process therefore implies a physical presence of an agent within the vehicle.

[0003] It is also known that such control can be carried out through sensors such as sensors integrated into the seats or detection cameras installed in the passenger compartment that can recognize passengers through video analysis.

[0004] Document EP 3 476 690 A1 discloses a method for managing available space and seats in a passenger transport system.

[0005] Document US 2017 / 200355 A1 discloses a method of guiding a passenger to a seat provided in a vehicle.

[0006] Document KR 2018 0096327 A discloses a method of warning of the approach of a railway vehicle.

[0007] Document WO 2011 / 023481 A1 discloses a method of communication between a train and trackside devices.

[0008] However, such a process requires, on the one hand, the installation of specific sensors in the vehicle's passenger compartment, these sensors having to have as little impact as possible on passenger comfort or the aesthetic appearance within the passenger compartment. On the other hand, systems based on video analysis require good visual coverage of the video camera system of all seats.

[0009] Such processes are complex to implement and / or require the intervention of personnel.

[0010] There is therefore a need for a method of controlling the occupancy of vehicle seats which is simpler and requires fewer human and / or material resources.

[0011] For this, the present invention relates to a method for controlling the occupation of the seats of one or more vehicles by passengers using a seat occupancy control device, the vehicle comprising a plurality of seats equipped with a reading light, the control device comprising each reading light, a reading light control system and a controller, the method being according to claim 1.

[0012] According to particular embodiments, the method is according to claims 2 to 6, taken in isolation or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0013] The present application also discloses a reading light system of the type comprising a reading light for a seat of a vehicle and a control system, the control system being capable of controlling the reading light to transmit data relating to the seat to an electronic device of a passenger of the vehicle, the data being transmitted using a wireless optical communication technique, the technique being the visible light communication technique.

[0014] The present invention further relates to a device for controlling the occupation of the seats of a vehicle by passengers, the vehicle comprising a plurality of seats equipped with a reading light, the control device being according to claim 7.

[0015] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which: there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a passenger and part of a vehicle comprising two seats and a communication device, and the figure 2 is a flowchart of an example of the implementation of a method for controlling the occupancy of seats in the figure 1 by the passenger.

[0016] There figure 1 represents a part of a vehicle 8 and a passenger P.

[0017] Passenger P is equipped with an electronic device 18.

[0018] Vehicle 8 is, for example, a railway vehicle such as a train or a tram.

[0019] The vehicle 8 comprises a plurality of seats 12 and a device 10 for controlling the occupancy of the seats 12.

[0020] The control device 10 comprises a reading light system and a controller 16. The reading light system comprises a reading light 14 associated with each seat 12 and a control system 15 for the reading lights 14. Advantageously, the reading light control system is centralized and capable of controlling each reading light.

[0021] Alternatively, the control device comprises a respective control system 15 for each reader 14.

[0022] In the figure 1 , for the sake of simplification, only two seats 12 are shown, knowing that any number of seats can be considered for the vehicle 8.

[0023] In this example, each seat 12 can be reserved by a single passenger.

[0024] A seat 12 is therefore reserved when there is a unique association between a passenger and said seat 12.

[0025] At least a plurality of seats 12 of the vehicle 8 are equipped with a reading light 14 of the control device 10.

[0026] In particular, the 12 seats illustrated on the figure 1 are each equipped with a reading light 14. The seats 12 illustrated on the figure 1 are, for example, grouped in vehicle 8.

[0027] In the example of the figure 1 , a first seat 12A is distinguished from a second seat 12B, the first and second seats 12A and 12B being identical in all respects.

[0028] In the example described, each reader 14 is identical, so that only one is described in the following.

[0029] The reading light 14 includes a light source 24.

[0030] In the proposed example, the light source 24 comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

[0031] The control system 15 of the reading lights 14 comprises a memory 26, a receiver 28 and a control unit 30. The control system 15 is capable of controlling the light source 24 to transmit data using a wireless optical communication technique.

[0032] In the example described, the communication technique is the visible light communication technique.

[0033] As the name suggests, visible light communication technology transmits data in the form of light signals whose wavelength is in the visible band, i.e. between 400 nanometers (nm) and 800 nm.

[0034] Such a communication technique is also known by the acronym VLC, which refers to the English term for “Visible light communication”.

[0035] Also, in the following, the visible light communication technique is simply referred to as the VLC technique.

[0036] The light source 24 is therefore capable of emitting light signals in the visible band.

[0037] In particular, the control system 15 is capable of modulating the light signal, for example, in amplitude and / or in frequency and / or in phase.

[0038] More generally, the light source 24 is capable of emitting a specific light signal corresponding to at least one item of data relating to the associated seat 12 that it is desired to transmit.

[0039] According to the example described, the control system 15 is capable of controlling the light source 24 to transmit the data relating to the seat 12 to the electronic device 18, according to the VLC technique.

[0040] The data relating to seat 12 includes a seat 12 identifier.

[0041] Advantageously, the electronic device 18 is able to receive and interpret this data in order to provide states associated with the seat 12.

[0042] According to one example, the seat data includes data relating to a state of seat 12 for passenger P.

[0043] The data relating to the state of seat 12 is, for example, data authorizing the use of seat 12 by passenger P or data prohibiting the use of seat 12 by passenger P, or advantageously data indicating that seat 12 has not been reserved.

[0044] Advantageously, the control system 15 is capable of controlling the light source 24 so that it emits light having a specific color as a function of the data relating to the seat 12 emitted and in particular the data relating to the state of the seat 12 for the passenger P.

[0045] Thus, when the data relating to the state of the seat is data indicating that the seat 12 has not been reserved, the light source 24 is capable of emitting a light that the passenger P is capable of discerning, the light being of a first color.

[0046] When the data relating to the state of the seat is data authorizing the use of the seat 12 by the passenger P, the light source 24 is capable of emitting light of a second color different from the first color. The light emitted is such that the passenger P is capable of discerning it and distinguishing it from the first color.

[0047] When the data relating to the state of the seat is data prohibiting the use of the seat 12 by the passenger P, the light source 24 is capable of emitting a light of a third color different from the first color and the second color. The emitted light is such that the passenger P is capable of discerning it and distinguishing it from the first color and the second color.

[0048] The three aforementioned colors (first, second, and third colors) are distinct. As a specific example, the first color is yellow, the second color is green, and the third color is red.

[0049] Thus, the data relating to seat 12 emitted by the light source 24 is capable of comprising an identifier of seat 12 and / or the state of seat 12 for passenger P.

[0050] The memory 26 is capable of storing, for each seat 12 / reading light 14 assembly with which the control system 15 is associated, data and in particular the data relating to the seat 12 to which the reading light 14 belongs. In particular, the memory 26 stores an identifier of the seat 12 to which the reading light 14 belongs.

[0051] Receiver 28 is suitable for receiving data.

[0052] Receiver 28 is, for example, an antenna.

[0053] By way of illustration, the receiver 28 is an antenna suitable for receiving data via radio wave communication.

[0054] The control unit 30 is suitable for controlling the light source 24.

[0055] Such control is a frequency and / or power control.

[0056] The control device 10 is capable of implementing a method for controlling the occupation of the seats 12 by the passenger P.

[0057] According to the proposed example, the device 10 for controlling the occupation of the seats 12 comprises each reading light 14 of each seat 12, the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 and the controller 16.

[0058] The controller 16 comprises a receiver 34, a database 36, a data processing unit 38 and a transmitter 40.

[0059] The controller 16 is, for example, a remote server outside the vehicle 8 or a server integrated into the vehicle 8.

[0060] In the example of the figure 1 , the controller 16 is a remote server outside the vehicle 8.

[0061] The receiver 34 is capable of receiving the data relating to the seat 12 comprising the identifier of the seat 12 as well as an identifier of the passenger P from the electronic device 18 of the passenger P via an electromagnetic or optical or wireless signal. The receiver 34 is, for example, an antenna capable of receiving data via, for example, radio wave communication.

[0062] The receiver 34 is, furthermore, suitable for receiving a request to reserve seat 12 by passenger P.

[0063] The database 36 associates data relating to each seat 12 reserved by a passenger P with the identifier of the passenger P having reserved the seat 12. The database 36 associates, for example, the identifier of each seat 12 reserved by a passenger P with the identifier of the passenger P having reserved the seat 12.

[0064] The data processing unit 38 is capable of receiving the data relating to the seat 12 as well as an identifier of the passenger P from the receiver 34. The data processing unit 38 is, furthermore, capable of comparing the identifier of the seat 12 with the identifiers of the seats 12 in the database 36 and the passenger identifier P with the identifiers of passengers P in the database 36.

[0065] The data processing unit 38 is further suitable for receiving the request to reserve seat 12 by the passenger P from the receiver 34.

[0066] The data processing unit 38 is, furthermore, capable of generating the data relating to the state of the seat of the seat 12 for the passenger P.

[0067] When seat 12 is reserved and when the identifier of passenger P matches the identifier of passenger P who reserved seat 12, the data relating to the status of seat 12 is data authorizing the use of seat 12 by passenger P.

[0068] When seat 12 is reserved and when the identifier of passenger P is different from the identifier of passenger P who reserved seat 12, the data relating to the status of seat 12 is data prohibiting the use of seat 12 by passenger P.

[0069] When seat 12 is reserved, when the identifier of passenger P is different from the identifier of passenger P having reserved seat 12, the data processing unit 38 is further adapted to generate at least one location data item for another unreserved seat 12.

[0070] When seat 12 is not reserved, the data relating to the status of seat 12 is an indicator data that seat 12 is not reserved.

[0071] The data processing unit 38 is furthermore capable, if the seat 12 is not reserved and if the data processing unit 38 receives a request to reserve the seat 12 by the passenger, of modifying the database 36 to associate therewith the identifier of the seat 12 and the identifier of the passenger P.

[0072] The transmitter 40 is capable of transmitting the data relating to the state of the seat 12 to the control system 15 via an electromagnetic signal.

[0073] The transmitter 40 is, for example, an antenna capable of transmitting data via, for example, radio wave communication. The transmitter 40 is, furthermore, capable of transmitting the location data of another seat 12 not reserved for the electronic device of the passenger P. The electronic device 18 of the passenger P comprises a memory 44, a camera 46, a transmitter 48 and a receiver 50.

[0074] The memory 44 of the electronic device 18 stores an identifier of the passenger P to which the electronic device 18 belongs.

[0075] The camera 46 is capable of receiving the data relating to the seat 12. In particular, the camera 46 is capable of receiving the data relating to the seat 12 according to the wireless optical communication technique, the wireless optical communication technique being the VLC technique.

[0076] Thus, the camera 46 is capable of receiving at least one light signal emitted by the light source 24 of the reading light 14.

[0077] The transmitter 48 of the electronic device 18 is capable of transmitting the data relating to the seat 12, in particular the identifier of the seat 12, and the identifier of the passenger P to which the electronic device 18 belongs to the controller 16 via an electromagnetic signal. The transmitter 48 is, for example, an antenna adapted to transmit data via, for example, radio wave communication.

[0078] The transmitter 48 of the electronic device 18 is, furthermore, capable of transmitting the request for reservation of the seat 12 by the passenger P to the controller 16.

[0079] The receiver 50 of the electronic device 18 is capable of receiving the location data of another seat not reserved by the controller 16 via an electromagnetic signal. The receiver 50 is, for example, an antenna adapted to receive data via, for example, radio wave communication.

[0080] According to one example, the electronic device 18 is a smart mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, and the controller 16 is a remote server.

[0081] The operation of the control device 10 is now described with reference to the figure 2 which is a flowchart of an example of implementation of a method for controlling the occupation of seats 12 of a vehicle by passengers P is described.

[0082] In the following, a first passenger PA is distinguished from a second passenger PB. As mentioned previously, a distinction is also made between the first seat 12A and the second seat 12B, the second seat 12B not being reserved.

[0083] The process includes test steps and will be presented using three implementation examples to describe all possible cases.

[0084] The first passenger PA wishes to use the first seat 12A.

[0085] According to a first example of implementation of the method, the first seat 12A is reserved by the first passenger PA.

[0086] In a first step S100, the light source 24 of the reading light 14 of the seat 12A transmits at least one piece of data relating to the seat 12A to the electronic device 18 of the first passenger PA. The light source 24 transmits, for example, using a wireless optical communication technique, via a light signal the identifier of the first seat 12A to the camera 46 of the electronic device 18 of the passenger PA. The wireless optical communication technique is the visible light communication technique.

[0087] During a second step S110, the electronic device 18 transmits the identifier of the first seat 12A and the identifier of the first passenger PA to the controller 16. The controller 16 receives the identifier of the first seat 12A and the identifier of the first passenger PA transmitted by the electronic device.

[0088] After the second step S110, a third step Q1 takes place, in which the data processing unit 38 of the controller 16 checks in the database 36 whether the first seat 12A is reserved. If the first seat 12A is reserved, which is the case in the first example, the next step is a fourth step S120.

[0089] If the first seat 12A is not reserved, the method proceeds according to the third example of implementation of the method described later and the next step is a step S320.

[0090] According to the first example of implementation of the method, the next step is therefore the fourth step S120.

[0091] In the fourth step S120, the data processing unit 38 compares the identifier of the first passenger PA with the identifier of the passenger P having reserved the first seat 12A.

[0092] After the fourth step S120, a fifth step Q2 takes place, during which if during step 120 the identifier of the passenger PA is the identifier of the passenger having reserved the seat 12A, the implementation by the method of a sixth step S130 is chosen and if during step 120 the identifier of the passenger PA is not the identifier of the passenger having reserved the seat 12A, the method proceeds according to the second example of implementation of the method described later and the implementation by the method of a step S230 is chosen.

[0093] The identifier of the passenger P is, in this first example of implementation of the method, the identifier of the first passenger PA. During step Q2, the data processing unit 38 then generates the data relating to the state of the seat for the passenger PA corresponding to an authorization of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA. According to the first example of implementation of the method, the following step implemented by the method is therefore the sixth step S130.

[0094] During the sixth step S130, the controller 16 transmits the data relating to the state of the seat 12A for the passenger PA, corresponding to the authorization of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA, to the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 and / or to the electronic device 18.

[0095] During a seventh step S140, the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 controls, for example, the light source 24 of the reading light 14 to emit data relating to the seat 12A comprising the data relating to the state of the seat 12A indicating the authorization of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA to the first passenger PA. The light source 24 emits, for example, a light of a green color, visible to the first passenger PA.

[0096] The method according to the first example therefore comprises the implementation of seven steps S100, S110, Q1, S120, Q2, S130 and S140 which have just been described.

[0097] In the following, a second example of implementation of the method is described in which the first seat 12A is reserved by the second passenger PB.

[0098] According to this second example of implementation of the method, the method also comprises the first step S100, the second step S110, the third step Q1, the fourth step S120 and the fifth step Q2.

[0099] During the fifth test step Q2 of this second example of implementation of the method, the identifier of the passenger P having reserved the first seat 12A being the identifier of the second passenger PB, the data processing unit 38 generates the data relating to the state of the seat 12A for the first passenger PA corresponding to a prohibition of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA. The data processing unit 38 also generates the location data of another unreserved seat 12, such as, for example, the seat 12B. The following step which is implemented by the method is therefore an eighth step S230 different from the sixth step S130.

[0100] During the eighth step S230, the controller 16 transmits the data relating to the state of the seat 12A for the first passenger PA, corresponding to a prohibition of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA to the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 and / or to the electronic device 18.

[0101] During a ninth step S240, the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 controls, for example, the light source 24 of the reading light 14 to emit data relating to the seat 12A comprising the data relating to the state of the seat 12A indicating the prohibition of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA to the first passenger PA. The light source 24 emits, for example, a light of a red color, visible to the first passenger PA.

[0102] During a tenth step S250, the controller 16 transmits the location data of the second seat 12B to the electronic device 18 of the first passenger PA.

[0103] The process can then be repeated with the second seat 12B.

[0104] The method according to the second example therefore comprises the implementation of eight steps S100, S110, Q1, S120, Q2, S230, S240 and S250 which have just been described.

[0105] In the following, a third example of implementation of the method is described in which the first seat 12A is not reserved.

[0106] In this third example of implementation of the method, the method also comprises the first step S100, the second step S110 and the third step Q1.

[0107] The data processing unit 38 generates the data relating to the state of the seat 12A corresponding to data indicating the non-reservation of the first seat 12A.

[0108] Since seat 12A is not reserved, after the third stage Q1 an eleventh stage S320 is implemented instead of the fourth stage S120.

[0109] During the eleventh step S320, the controller 16 transmits the data indicating the non-reservation of the first seat 12A to the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 and / or the electronic device 18.

[0110] During a twelfth step S330, the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 controls, for example, the light source 24 of the reading light 14 to emit data relating to the seat 12A comprising the data relating to the state of the seat 12A indicating the non-reservation of the first seat 12A for the first passenger PA. The light source 24 emits, for example, a light of a yellow color, visible to the first passenger PA.

[0111] In a thirteenth step S340, the electronic device 18 sends a request for reservation of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA to the controller 16. The controller 16 receives the request for reservation of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA.

[0112] During a fourteenth step S350, the data processing unit 38 modifies the database 36 to associate therein the identifier of the first seat 12A and the identifier of the first passenger PA and generates data relating to the state of the seat 12A indicating data authorizing the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA.

[0113] During a fifteenth step S360, the controller 16 transmits the data authorizing the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA to the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 and / or the electronic device 18.

[0114] During a sixteenth step S370, the control system 15 of the reading lights 14 controls, for example, the light source 24 of the reading light 14 to emit data relating to the seat 12A comprising the data relating to the state of the seat 12A indicating the authorization of the use of the first seat 12A by the first passenger PA to the first passenger PA. The light source 24 emits, for example, a light of a green color, visible to the first passenger PA.

[0115] The method according to the third example therefore comprises the implementation of nine steps S100, S110, Q1, S320, S330, S340, S350, S360 and S370 which have just been described.

[0116] The method thus makes it possible to control the occupation of seats 12A and 12B of the vehicle 8 by passengers P. Indeed, as illustrated with the three examples, the method is compatible with reservable or non-reservable seat configurations. Furthermore, the method is not very complex to implement and requires few human and / or material resources. The proposed method allows any passenger P to check and / or modify the reservation of a particular seat 12 without having to request the assistance of an agent dedicated to this task.

[0117] Such a method also makes it possible to avoid the implementation, within the vehicle, of expensive, complex sensors which could involve the acquisition of personal data from the passenger, such as, for example, occupancy detection and monitoring of said passenger by video analysis by camera.

[0118] In fact, the implementation of the method simply involves changing the operation of the reading light 14 of the seat 12.

[0119] Such a method also allows for real control of the actual occupancy of the seats 12, unlike an access gate. In particular, it is common for a passenger P to board the wrong vehicle without getting the wrong seat number. This is not possible with such a control device 10.

[0120] The embodiments of the described method can be combined for other control methods when these embodiments are technically compatible with each other, and while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Method for checking the seat occupancy (12) of one or more vehicle(s) (8) by passengers (P) using a checking device (10) for checking seat occupancy (12), the vehicle (8) comprising a plurality of seats (12) equipped with a reading light (14), the checking device (10) comprising each reading light (14), a control system (15) for checking the reading lights (14) and a controller (16), the method comprising: - a step of transmitting at least one piece of data relating to a seat (12) to an electronic device (18) of a passenger (P) of the vehicle (8), the data being transmitted according to a wireless optical communication technique, the technique being the visible light communication technique, the transmission step being implemented by the reading light (14) of the seat (12) controlled by the control system (15), wherein, when the seat (12) is reserved, the method includes a step of transmitting by the control device (10) data relating to the state of the seat (12) for the passenger (P), said data being either data authorising the use of the seat (12) by the passenger (P) when the passenger (P) is the passenger who reserved the seat (12) or data prohibiting the use of the seat (12) by the passenger (P) when the passenger is different from the passenger who reserved the seat (12), characterised in that the data relating to the seat (12) comprises an identifier of the seat (12), the method also including: - a step of receiving an identifier of the passenger (P) transmitted by the electronic device (18) of the passenger (P) to the controller (16); and - a step of generating the data relating to the state of the seat (12) for the passenger (P) by the controller (16), the generating step including a step of comparing the identifier of the passenger (P) who reserved the seat (12) and the identifier of the passenger (P).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting data relating to the state of the seat (12) for the passenger (P) is implemented by displaying a light signal to the passenger (P).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising, when the seat (12) is not reserved, a step of transmitting data relating to the state of the seat (12), indicating the non-reservation of the seat (12).

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising, when the seat (12) is not reserved, a step of receiving by the controller (16) a seat reservation request (12) by the passenger (P) and a step of associating by the controller (16) the seat identifier (12) with the passenger identifier (P).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when the passenger (P) is different from the passenger (P) who reserved the seat (12), the method further includes a step of transmitting by the controller (16) to the electronic device (18) of the passenger (P) at least one piece of data on the location of another unreserved seat (12).

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electronic device (18) is a smart mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, and the controller (16) is a remote server.

7. Control evice (10) for controlling the occupancy of the seats (12) of a vehicle (8) by passengers (P), the vehicle (8) including a plurality of seats (12) equipped with a reading light (14), the control device (10) comprising each reading light (14), a control system (15) for controlling the reading lights (14) and a controller (16), the control system (15) being able to control each reading light (14) of a seat (12) to transmit data relating to the seat (12) to an electronic device (18) of a passenger of the vehicle (8), the data being transmitted according to a wireless optical communication technique, the technique being the visible-light communication technique, wherein the control device (10) is configured to transmit data relating to the state of the seat (12) for the passenger (P) when the seat (12) is reserved, said data being either data authorising the use of the seat (12) by the passenger (P) when the passenger (P) is the passenger who reserved the seat (12) or data prohibiting use of the seat (12) by the passenger (P) when the passenger is different from the passenger who reserved the seat (12), characterised in that the data relating to the seat (12) comprises an identifier of the seat (12), the controller (16) being configured to receive an identifier of the passenger (P) transmitted by the electronic device (18) of the passenger (P) and to generate the data relating to the state of the seat (12) for the passenger (P), the controller (16) being intended to compare the identifier of the passenger (P) who reserved the seat (12) and the identifier of the passenger (P) to generate the data relating to the state of the seat (12) for the passenger (P).