Automatic turnstile, automatic turnstile control method, and program

Abstract

To provide an automatic turnstile, an automatic turnstile control method, and a program that can prioritize processing for the first customer when accepting media from both the first and next customers simultaneously.SOLUTION: The automatic turnstile according to an embodiment includes a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a processing unit. The first detection unit reads first media information from a first medium of a user. The second detection unit is positioned further into a passageway than the first detection unit and reads second media information from a second medium of the user using a different method from the first detection unit. The processing unit performs processing to control passage of the user based on the first media information or the second media information. The processing unit invalidates the first media information and validates the second media information when the second detection unit reads the second media information within a predetermined period of time after the first detection unit has read the first media information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an automatic ticket gate, an automatic ticket gate control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Current automated ticket gates are capable of accepting multiple media, and once they have accepted the media of the first passenger, they do not accept the media of the second passenger until the processing for that passenger is complete. In recent years, automated ticket gates capable of accepting multiple media have been put into practical use. In such cases, the detectors that detect information from the media may be lined up along the passage, and the second passenger may present their media to the detector at the front before the first passenger presents their media to the detector at the back. This can lead to incorrect operation and failure to prohibit the second passenger's media from being accepted. Thus, with conventional technology, when media from a previous passenger and a subsequent passenger are accepted within a short period of time, it is sometimes impossible to prioritize the processing of the previous passenger. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-67089 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To provide an automatic ticket gate, an automatic ticket gate control method, and a program that can give priority to processing of a previous customer when media of the previous customer and a subsequent customer are accepted within a short period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The automated ticket gate of the embodiment has a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a processing unit. The first detection unit reads first medium information from a user's first medium. The second detection unit is located further back in the passage than the first detection unit and reads second medium information from the user's second medium using a method different from that of the first detection unit. The processing unit performs processing to control the user's passage based on the first medium information or the second medium information. If the second detection unit reads the second medium information within a certain period of time after the first detection unit reads the first medium information, the processing unit invalidates the first medium information and validates the second medium information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of an automatic ticket gate 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an external configuration diagram of an automatic ticket gate 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a scene in which a previous customer and a subsequent customer are about to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a time chart showing a series of processes in two situations that may occur in the automatic ticket gate 1 of the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of the automatic ticket gate 1 when the first detection unit is the insertion slot 40 and the second detection unit is the transportation IC card reading unit 60. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the automatic ticket gate 1 according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An automatic ticket gate, an automatic ticket gate control method, and a program according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The automatic ticket gate according to the embodiment is, for example, a device installed in a transportation facility such as a railway. The automatic ticket gate according to the embodiment is, for example, an automatic ticket gate that can accept multiple media presented by a user. Examples of media include transportation IC cards, magnetic tickets, contactless credit cards, and two-dimensional code images. The automatic ticket gate according to the embodiment has multiple detectors, reads media information from each corresponding medium, determines whether the user is allowed to pass based on the media information, and controls the opening and closing of the gate doors based on the result of the determination. The media may be a standalone medium that can be used to pay fares, or may store only a user ID and have the payment processed by a payment server. The automatic ticket gate according to the embodiment allows a user to pass only in one direction, from one side to the other, but may also be capable of reversing the direction using a switch or the like.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of an automatic ticket gate 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 also shows a payment server 200 that can communicate with the automatic ticket gate 1 via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless base station, a provider device, and the like.

[0009] The automatic ticket gate 1 includes, for example, a door unit 10, a device control unit 20, a display unit 30, an insertion slot 40, a magnetic ticket control unit 50, a transportation IC card reading unit 60, a QR code reading unit 70, a contactless credit card reading unit 80, a user detection sensor 90, and a processing unit 100. Each unit of the automatic ticket gate 1 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an external configuration diagram of the automatic ticket gate 1 according to the embodiment. Arrow A in Fig. 2 indicates the direction in which the user is traveling.

[0010] Door section 10 allows or prohibits a user from passing through by opening and closing. In the example of Fig. 2, door sections 10-1 and 10-2 are provided on the entrance and exit sides of automatic ticket gate 1, respectively.

[0011] The device control unit 20 controls the passage of users by controlling the door unit 10 to an open state or a closed state in response to instructions from the processing unit 100. For example, if a user satisfies the passage conditions, the device control unit 20 controls the door unit 10 to an open state to allow the user to pass, and if the passage conditions are not satisfied, the device control unit 20 controls the door unit 10 to a closed state to prohibit the user from passing.

[0012] Display unit 30 is a display that displays information to be provided to the user. In the example of Fig. 2, display units 30-1 and 30-2 are provided on the top surfaces of the entrance and exit sides of automatic ticket gate 1, respectively. Display unit 30 may, for example, display the balance of a transportation IC card, or may display messages, warnings, and the like for the user.

[0013] The slot 40 is a location that accepts magnetic tickets inserted by users. In the example of Figure 2, the slot 40 is provided on the entrance side at the top of the housing that constitutes the automatic ticket gate 1. When a magnetic ticket is inserted, the slot 40 is closed and invalidated, and when the user has finished passing through, the slot 40 is opened and valid again. The slot 40 is equipped with a magnetic ticket insertion sensor (not shown). The magnetic ticket insertion sensor detects the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot 40 by the user.

[0014] The magnetic ticket control unit 50 includes, for example, a transport control unit 52, a reading head 54, and a writing head 56. The transport control unit 52 controls the transport path for magnetic tickets, the reading head 54, and the writing head 56. The transport control unit 52 transports magnetic tickets inserted into the slot 40 to the reading head 54 and the writing head 56. The reading head 54 reads information from the magnetic ticket and outputs the information to the magnetic ticket processing unit 120. The writing head 56 writes information received from the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 onto the magnetic ticket. For example, when the magnetic ticket control unit 50 detects the insertion of a magnetic ticket using a magnetic ticket insertion sensor, it closes the slot 40.

[0015] The transportation IC card reader 60 reads information when a user presents a transportation IC card. In the example of FIG. 2, the transportation IC card reader 60 is provided on the entrance side of the upper part of the housing that constitutes the automatic ticket gate 1. The transportation IC card reader 60 communicates with the IC chip installed in the transportation IC card using, for example, a 13.56 MHz communication band. The transportation IC card information read by the transportation IC card reader 60 includes, for example, the balance on the transportation IC card, information on the commuter pass linked to the transportation IC card, and information on the entrance station.

[0016] The QR code reader 70 reads code information such as a QR code (registered trademark). In the example of FIG. 2, the QR code reader 70 is provided on the entrance side of the upper part of a housing constituting the automatic ticket gate 1. The QR code may be, for example, an image displayed on a terminal or may be printed on paper. The QR code includes information related to passage through the automatic ticket gate 1. Note that the code information may be other codes such as a barcode instead of a QR code.

[0017] The contactless credit card reader 80 reads information on a contactless credit card, which is a touchless payment medium, presented by a user. In the example of FIG. 2, the contactless credit card reader 80 is provided second from the entrance side at the top of the housing constituting the automatic ticket gate 1. The contactless credit card reader 80 is capable of NFC communication, and the touchless payment is IC card payment conforming to the EMV standard. NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless communication that enables bidirectional communication between an IC chip and an NFC-compatible device at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. The EMV standard is an international standard for credit cards equipped with an IC chip. The contactless credit card may be, for example, a contactless credit card emulated on a wearable device or may be the contactless credit card itself. The contactless credit card reader 80 reads the contactless credit card using, for example, near-field wireless communication. The contactless credit card information is read, for example, by the contactless credit card number.

[0018] The user detection sensor 90 detects an obstruction by, for example, emitting light. The user detection sensor 90 is used to detect the user, their position, and whether the user is an adult or a child. In the example of FIG. 2, multiple user detection sensors 90 are installed on the top and sides of the housing that constitutes the automatic ticket gate 1. Details of the user detection sensors 90 will be described later.

[0019] The processing unit 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 110, a magnetic ticket processing unit 120, a transportation IC card processing unit 130, a QR code processing unit 140, a contactless credit card processing unit 150, and a recognition unit 160. The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for connecting to a network NW. The communication unit 110 is, for example, a network card. The communication unit 110 communicates with an external payment server 200 that manages payments for contactless credit cards.

[0020] Each unit of the processing unit 100 other than the communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0021] The magnetic ticket processing unit 120 determines whether to permit the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on the information read by the reading head 54. For example, when the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed is the entry station, the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 determines whether to permit the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on whether the magnetic ticket inserted by the user is valid based on the usage information included in the magnetic ticket. For example, when the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed is the exit station, the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 determines whether to permit the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on whether the range between the entry station and the exit station included in the information on the magnetic ticket inserted by the user when exiting is within the boarding section included in the information on the magnetic ticket. If the range is within the boarding section, the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 outputs to the device control unit 20 that the user is permitted to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1, and if the range is outside the boarding section, the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 outputs to the device control unit 20 that the user is not permitted to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1.

[0022] The transportation IC card processing unit 130 determines whether to permit the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on the information on the transportation IC card read by the transportation IC card reading unit 60. For example, when the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed is the entrance station, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 permits passage if the charge balance included in the transportation IC card presented by the user to the transportation IC card reading unit 60 is equal to or greater than the minimum fare amount. Furthermore, if the transportation IC card held by the user is linked to a commuter pass and the commuter pass is within its validity period, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 permits passage through the automatic ticket gate 1 even if the charge balance is less than the minimum fare amount.

[0023] For example, if the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed is the exit station, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 calculates the fare from the entrance station based on the entry station information included in the transportation IC card that the user holds over the transportation IC card reading unit 60. The transportation IC card processing unit 130 deducts the calculated fare from the charge balance. If the fare can be deducted from the charge balance, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 allows passage through the automatic ticket gate 1. If the charge balance is insufficient to deduct the fare, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 does not allow passage through the automatic ticket gate 1. Furthermore, if the transportation IC card held by the user is linked to a commuter pass, and the entry station and exit station are within the commuter pass zone and within the commuter pass's validity period, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 does not calculate the fare and allows passage through the automatic ticket gate 1. The transportation IC card processing unit 130 outputs to the device control unit 20 whether or not to allow the user to pass.

[0024] The QR code processing unit 140 determines whether or not to permit a user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on code information such as a QR code. The code information is linked to information on a ticket purchased in advance by the user, and the QR code processing unit 140 determines whether or not to permit passage through the automatic ticket gate 1 by determining the validity of the ticket (validity date, whether payment has been made, etc.). The QR code processing unit 140 may also specify a user ID linked to the code information and permit passage through the automatic ticket gate 1.

[0025] For example, when the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed is set as the entrance station, the QR code processing unit 140 reads usage information from a code image that the user holds over the QR code reading unit 70. The QR code processing unit 140 determines whether the ticket is valid by referring to a ticket table (not shown) containing ticket validity information, and allows the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1. The ticket validity information includes, for example, the validity date, whether payment has been made, the entrance station, and the exit station. Furthermore, when the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed is set as the exit station, the QR code processing unit 140 allows the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on the validity of the ticket, just as when entering the station. The QR code processing unit 140 may also allow the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 based on conditions such as whether the date on which the user intends to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 is included in the validity date, or whether the station where the automatic ticket gate 1 is installed matches the entrance station or exit station on the ticket.

[0026] The QR code processing unit 140 may also calculate the fare (an example of a charge amount) for the section of use from the entrance station to the exit station based on a user ID linked to the QR code or the like. A user ID is a unique ID assigned to each user. The QR code processing unit 140 refers to a fare table (not shown) and the usage information included in the code information to calculate the fare for the section of use that the user plans to use. The QR code processing unit 140 may also identify the section of use that the user actually used based on the identification information of the entrance station and the identification information of the exit station included in the usage information, and calculate the fare for that section of use.

[0027] The QR code processing unit 140 refers to a code validity information database (not shown) to identify the user associated with the user ID and decides to collect the fare from the user. For example, the QR code processing unit 140 performs payment by deducting the fare amount from the charge balance associated with the identified user ID. The actual payment process may be performed by requesting an external device such as a payment server of a credit company or a telecommunications carrier. The payment process by the QR code processing unit 140 may be performed each time the user passes through the automatic ticket gate 1, or may be performed all at once after a predetermined period of time. The payment process by the QR code processing unit 140 does not necessarily have to be performed when the user passes through the automatic ticket gate 1, but may be performed at any time after passing through. The QR code processing unit 140 outputs to the device control unit 20 whether or not to permit the user to pass.

[0028] The contactless credit card processing unit 150 inquires of the payment server 200 via the communication unit 110 whether payment is possible or not based on the information of the contactless credit card that the user holds when entering or exiting, and also performs payment processing.

[0029] The payment server 200 is a server that manages the validity information and payments of contactless credit cards. The functions of the payment server are explained below. The payment server 200 determines whether a contactless credit card is valid or invalid based on the inquiry information from the contactless credit card processing unit 150. The inquiry information from the contactless credit card processing unit 150 is usage information and the contactless credit card number. If the contactless credit card is valid, the payment server 200 transmits the determination result to the contactless credit card processing unit 150 that made the inquiry.

[0030] The following describes the processing that takes place when a user passes through the automatic ticket gate 1 using a contactless credit card. The contactless credit card processing unit 150 reads the usage information of the contactless credit card presented by the user when entering using the contactless credit card reading unit 80, and queries the payment server 200 based on the usage information as to whether the contactless credit card is valid. The usage information is the contactless credit card number read from the contactless credit card. If the payment server 200 returns a response indicating that the credit card is valid, the contactless credit card processing unit 150 outputs to the equipment control unit 20 that the user is permitted to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1.

[0031] The contactless credit card processing unit 150 reads the usage information of the contactless credit card held up by the user when exiting using the contactless credit card reading unit 80, and sends a payment processing request to the payment server 200 based on the contactless credit card usage information. The usage information includes the entry station, exit station, and credit card number. The payment server 200 receives the information on the entry station and exit station from the contactless credit card processing unit 150, calculates the fare, and counts it as the contactless credit card usage amount. Once the payment is complete, the payment server 200 sends a notification of completion to the contactless credit card processing unit 150. The contactless credit card processing unit 150 outputs to the device control unit 20 a notification that the user is permitted to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1. Alternatively, the contactless credit card processing unit 150 may permit the user to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1 and then perform the payment processing once the validity of the contactless credit card has been confirmed.

[0032] The contactless credit card processing unit 150 may transmit information about the entrance station to the payment server 200 via the communication unit 110 if the contactless credit card is valid, or may transmit the entrance station to a server (not shown) that manages ticket information via the communication unit 110.

[0033] Hereinafter, in the automatic ticket gate 1, any of the detection units among the insertion slot 40, magnetic ticket control unit 50, transportation IC card reading unit 60, QR code reading unit 70, and contactless credit card reading unit 80 will be referred to as the first detection unit, the type of medium read by the first detection unit will be referred to as the first medium, any detection unit located further back than the first detection unit will be referred to as the second detection unit, and the type of medium read by the second detection unit will be referred to as the second medium.

[0034] The recognition unit 160 identifies a user using the user detection sensor 90, which detects the presence of an object at a predetermined position in the passage of the automatic ticket gate 1. When a previous user attempts to present a medium to the automatic ticket gate 1 and a subsequent user presents a different medium to the automatic ticket gate 1, the recognition unit 160 determines whether these actions were performed by different people. The conditions for the recognition unit 160 to identify a user as a different person are that the elapsed time from when the first detection unit reads the first medium to when the second detection unit reads the second medium is within a certain period of time, and that the user detection sensor 90 detects multiple users. The recognition unit 160 may identify a user as a different person based on only one of the conditions, that the elapsed time is within a certain period of time or that the user detection sensor detects multiple users.

[0035] The recognition unit 160 determines that the user who presented the first medium and the user who presented or inserted the second medium are not different people (they are the same person) in the following cases: (1) When the user detection sensors 90-1 to 90-8 continuously capture one user between the time when the first detection unit reads the first usage information and the time when the second detection unit reads the second usage information, and the type of user detected by the user detection sensors 90-9 to 90-14 does not change between adult and child. Continuous capture refers to a state in which adjacent user detection sensors 90 detect usage in turn.

[0036] The recognition unit 160 determines that the user who presents the first medium and the user who presents or inserts the second medium are different people in the following cases. (2) When the user detection sensors 90-1 to 90-8 continuously capture one user and the type of user detected by the user detection sensors 90-9 to 90-14 changes from adult to child or from child to adult. (3) When the user detection sensors 90-1 to 90-8 detect one user, the user detection stops, and then the user is detected again after a predetermined time has elapsed. (4) When the time that has elapsed between the first detection unit reading the first usage information and the second detection unit reading the second usage information is equal to or longer than a certain period of time.

[0037] The certain period of time is, for example, about one second. In this case, if the elapsed time is one second or more, the recognition unit 160 determines that the user who presented the first medium and the user who presented or inserted the second medium are different people. The criteria for the elapsed time used to determine whether the users are different people may be set arbitrarily.

[0038] As shown in the figure, the automatic ticket gate 1 is equipped with, for example, a QR code reader 70, a contactless credit card reader 80, an insertion slot 40, and a transportation IC card reader 60 from the entrance side of the automatic ticket gate 1. The installation order of the QR code reader 70, the contactless credit card reader 80, the insertion slot 40, and the transportation IC card reader 60 is not limited to this order and may be reversed.

[0039] The contactless credit card reading unit 80 is an example of a "first detection unit," and some or all of the other detection units are examples of a "second detection unit." The other detection units are the transportation IC card reading unit 60 and the slot 40. The second detection unit is located behind the first detection unit (the exit side of the automatic ticket gate 1). Alternatively, any two or specific two of the four detection units may have a relationship in which the detection unit on the front side is the first detection unit and the detection unit on the back side is the second detection unit.

[0040] In the following description, the contactless credit card reading unit 80 corresponds to the first detection unit, and the transportation IC card reading unit 60 corresponds to the second detection unit.

[0041] If a previous customer presents a contactless credit card and the next customer presents a transportation IC card, the previous customer would normally enter the automatic ticket gate 1 first and present their contactless credit card to the contactless credit card reading unit 80, and then the next customer would present their transportation IC card to the transportation IC card reading unit 60. In this case, passage control is also carried out in the correct order, so no particular problems arise. Conversely, if the previous customer presents a transportation IC card and the next customer presents a contactless credit card, the contactless credit card may be detected first.

[0042] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a scene in which a preceding customer and a subsequent customer are about to pass through the automatic ticket gate 1. In Fig. 3, hand B of the preceding customer is about to present a transportation IC card to transportation IC card reader 60, and hand C of the subsequent customer is about to present a contactless credit card to contactless credit card reader 80. In the above-described order of installation of the detection units in automatic ticket gate 1, multiple users will be able to present their respective media within a certain period of time, and processing of the medium presented by the subsequent customer (first medium) will begin before processing of the medium presented by the preceding customer (second medium) has finished.

[0043] When the processing unit 100 of the automated ticket gate 1 of this embodiment detects that one medium has been presented by a user and then detects that a different medium has been presented by another user, it calculates the difference in the detection times of the two media. If the difference in the detection times of the two media is within a predetermined time, the processing unit 100 determines what processing to perform based on the relative positions of the first and second detection units. The predetermined time is the same as or slightly longer than a fixed time.

[0044] If the second detection unit reads the second medium information within a predetermined time after the first detection unit reads the first medium information, the processing unit 100 invalidates the first medium information and validates the second medium information.

[0045] The contactless credit card processing unit 150 requests the payment server to perform payment processing based on the first medium information read by the contactless credit card reading unit 80, but if the first medium information is invalid, it sends a process to cancel this payment processing (initialization). The same applies to the process of inquiring about the validity of a contactless credit card by the contactless credit card processing unit 150. The contactless credit card processing unit 150 determines that the next customer who presented the first medium has not presented a medium, and causes the device control unit 20 to control the transaction to be denied (no bill state).

[0046] If the second medium information is determined to be valid, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 performs the same fare calculation and passage control as usual based on the second medium.

[0047] 4 is a time chart showing a series of processes in two situations that may occur in the automatic ticket gate 1 of the embodiment. The time chart in FIG. 4 is a time chart for, for example, passing through the automatic ticket gate 1 and exiting. The horizontal axis in these diagrams indicates the passage of time.

[0048] 4, at time T1, the contactless credit card reader 80 reads the contactless credit card presented by the next customer. Time T1 is the start point of counting the predetermined time T.

[0049] At time T2, the contactless credit card processing unit 150 makes an inquiry to the payment server 200. At time T3, the payment server 200 receives the inquiry and starts processing for the contactless credit card.

[0050] Then, at time T4, the transportation IC card reader 60 detects that a transportation IC card has been presented by the previous customer. Since T4, when the transportation IC card was presented, is within the predetermined time T from T1, the contactless credit card processor 150 sends a request to cancel the payment process at time T5. At time T6, the payment server 200 receives the request to cancel the payment process and stops processing the contactless credit card.

[0051] At time T7, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 determines that the user who presented the transportation IC card is a preceding passenger, and therefore performs passage control based on the second medium information read from the transportation IC card.

[0052] In addition to the above-described processing, the recognition unit 160 may also use the user detection sensor 90 to determine whether the user is a different person to distinguish between the previous customer and the next customer.

[0053] As described above, when the second detection unit is located further back than the first detection unit, the first medium information is invalidated and the second medium information is valid, allowing passage control based on the second medium information of the second medium presented by the previous customer. Passage control can also be based on the first medium information of the first medium presented by the next customer, making it possible to control passage based on the medium information of the correct medium for both the previous and next customers.

[0054] (Variation) Below, a case where the first detection unit is a transportation IC card reading unit 60 and the second detection unit is an insertion slot 40 will be described.

[0055] A magnetic ticket detection sensor in slot 40 detects the magnetic ticket inserted by the next customer. Within a certain period of time after the magnetic ticket detection sensor detects the magnetic ticket, transportation IC card reader 60 reads the transportation IC card presented by the previous customer.

[0056] The magnetic ticket processing unit 120 holds the first medium information for a certain period of time. Holding means, for example, processing up to reading the magnetic ticket, which is the first medium, and then halting the processing for a certain period of time. The transportation IC card processing unit 130 reads the second medium information from the transportation IC card, which is the second medium, presented by the previous passenger, and completes the same processing as normal. The magnetic ticket processing unit 120 then releases the hold, performs a passage determination based on the first medium information, and performs passage control based on the result of the passage determination.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of the automatic ticket gate 1 when the first detection unit is the insertion slot 40 and the second detection unit is the transportation IC card reading unit 60.

[0058] In the figure, at time T11, a magnetic ticket is inserted into slot 40, and the magnetic ticket is detected by a magnetic ticket detection sensor (not shown) of slot 40. Time T11 is the start point of counting the predetermined time T.

[0059] At time T12, the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 begins passage control based on the first medium information, such as reading the magnetic ticket. At time T13, the transportation IC card reading unit 60 detects the transportation IC card presented by the preceding passenger. Because time T13, when the transportation IC card reading unit 60 detected the transportation IC card, is within the predetermined time T starting from time T11, at time T14 the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 suspends processing after reading the magnetic ticket.

[0060] At time T15, the transportation IC card processing unit 130 determines that the user who presented the transportation IC card is a previous passenger, and therefore reads the second medium information from the transportation IC card and performs passage control based on the second medium information.

[0061] At time T16, the magnetic ticket processing unit 120 resumes passage control based on the first medium information that was put on hold.

[0062] In the above case, since both the magnetic ticket and the transportation IC card write information to the medium for passage control, the processing of the information on the first medium is suspended for a certain period of time so that the passage control of the previous and next passengers can be processed in the correct order. Therefore, the passage control of the next passenger does not overtake the passage control of the previous passenger.

[0063] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the automatic ticket barrier 1 according to the embodiment. The first detection unit reads the first medium (step S100).

[0064] The processing unit 100 starts passage control based on the first medium information read from the first medium (step S110).

[0065] The second detection unit reads the second medium (step S120).

[0066] The processing unit 100 calculates whether or not the time from the detection time of the first medium by the first detection unit to the detection time of the second medium by the second detection unit is within a predetermined time (step S130).

[0067] In the processing of step S130, if the processing unit 100 determines that the time from the detection of the first medium by the first detection unit to the detection of the second medium by the second detection unit is within a certain period of time, it cancels the passage control based on the first medium information (step S140).

[0068] The processing unit 100 determines that the user who presented the second medium is a previous customer, and performs passage control based on the second medium information (step S150).

[0069] The processing unit 100 controls the device control unit 20 to prohibit the user holding the first medium from passing through (step S160).

[0070] In the processing of step S140, if it is determined that the time from the detection of the first medium by the first detection unit to the detection of the second medium by the second detection unit is not within a predetermined time, the user holding the first medium is not considered to be the "next customer" as described above, and passage control for the user holding the first medium is continued (step S170).

[0071] Next, the processing unit 100 performs passage control for the user holding the first medium, and then performs passage control for the user holding the second medium (the user who is about to pass after the user holding the first medium) (step S180).

[0072] According to at least one embodiment described above, the system comprises a first detection unit (e.g., a contactless credit card reading unit 80) that reads first medium information from the user's first medium, a second detection unit (e.g., a transportation IC card reading unit 60) that is located further back in the aisle than the first detection unit and reads second medium information from the user's second medium in a manner different from that of the first detection unit, and a processing unit (100) that performs processing to control the user's passage based on the first medium information or the second medium information, and the processing unit invalidates the first medium information and validates the second medium information if the second detection unit reads the second medium information within a predetermined time after the first detection unit reads the first medium information, thereby enabling priority to be given to processing the previous customer when media from both the previous and next customers are accepted at the same time.

[0073] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1...automatic ticket gate, 10...door section, 20...equipment control section, 30...display section, 40...insertion slot, 50...magnetic ticket control section, 60...transportation IC card reading section, 70...QR code reading section, 80, contactless credit card reading section, 90...user detection sensor, 100...processing section, 110...communication section, 120...magnetic ticket processing section, 130...transportation IC card processing section, 140...QR code processing section, 150...contactless credit card processing section, 160...recognition section

Claims

1. a first detection unit that reads first medium information from a first medium of a user; a second detection unit that is provided at the back of the passageway relative to the first detection unit and that reads second medium information from the second medium of the user using a method different from that of the first detection unit; a processing unit that performs processing for controlling passage of the user based on the first medium information or the second medium information, When the second detection unit reads the second medium information within a predetermined time after the first detection unit reads the first medium information, the processing unit invalidates the first medium information and validates the second medium information. Automatic ticket gate.

2. a plurality of detection units each reading medium information from a user's medium in a different manner; a processing unit that performs processing for controlling passage of the user based on the medium information read by any one of the plurality of detection units, When a first detection unit among the plurality of detection units reads first medium information from a first medium, and a second detection unit among the plurality of detection units that is provided at a deeper side of the passage than the first detection unit reads second medium information from a second medium within a predetermined time, the processing unit invalidates the first medium information and validates the second medium information. Automatic ticket gate.

3. an identification unit for identifying a user passing through the passage; the processing unit performs a process of determining whether a user can pass the first medium based on the first medium information and performing the process of controlling the user's passage based on the result of the determination of whether the user can pass the second medium; and performs a process of prohibiting the user from passing the first medium based on the result of the determination of whether the user can pass the second medium based on the result of the determination of whether the user can pass ...

3. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When the first medium is a two-dimensional code image or a touchless payment medium, the processing unit cancels a request for payment processing based on the first medium to a payment server that manages payment processing via a network, and transmits a request for processing to initialize the payment processing.

3. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1 or 2.

5. When the first medium is an IC card or a magnetic ticket, the processing unit reserves the first medium information for the predetermined time, performs a passage determination based on the second medium information, and performs the passage control based on the result of the passage determination.

3. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1 or 2.

6. a first detection unit that reads first medium information from a first medium of a user; a second detection unit that is provided at the back of the passageway relative to the first detection unit and that reads second medium information from the second medium of the user using a method different from that of the first detection unit; a processing unit that performs processing for controlling passage of the user based on the first medium information or the second medium information, When the second detection unit reads the second medium information within a predetermined time after the first detection unit reads the first medium information, the first medium information is invalidated and the second medium information is valid. Automatic ticket gate control method.

7. a plurality of detection units each reading medium information from a user's medium in a different manner; a processing unit that performs processing for controlling passage of the user based on the medium information read by any of the plurality of detection units, After a first detection unit among the plurality of detection units reads first medium information from a first medium, if a second detection unit among the plurality of detection units, which is provided at a deeper side of the aisle than the first detection unit, reads second medium information from a second medium within a predetermined time, the first medium information is invalidated and the second medium information is valid. Automatic ticket gate control method.

8. a processor of an automatic ticket gate, which comprises a first detection unit that reads first medium information from a first medium of a user; a second detection unit that is provided at the back of the passage from the first detection unit and that reads second medium information from a second medium of the user in a manner different from that of the first detection unit; and a processing unit that performs processing for controlling passage of the user based on the first medium information or the second medium information; A program for executing a process to invalidate the first medium information and validate the second medium information when the second detection unit reads the second medium information within a predetermined time after the first detection unit reads the first medium information.

9. A processor of an automatic ticket gate includes a plurality of detection units that read medium information from a user's medium using different methods, and a processing unit that performs processing for controlling passage of the user based on the medium information read by any of the plurality of detection units. A program for executing a process to invalidate the first medium information and validate the second medium information when, after a first detection unit among the plurality of detection units reads first medium information from a first medium, a second detection unit among the plurality of detection units, which is located further back in the aisle than the first detection unit, reads second medium information from a second medium within a predetermined time.

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