Automatic ticket gate, method for controlling an automatic ticket gate, and control program for an automatic ticket gate

Abstract

The system provides an automatic ticket gate that allows users to pass through even if the data has not yet been written to the information storage medium, provided the determination result indicates that passage is permitted. [Solution] The automatic ticket gate includes a read / write unit that reads data from the door and a storage medium held by the user and writes data to the same information storage medium, a data processing unit that determines whether the user is allowed to pass through based on this data, a main control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit, and if a certain period of time has elapsed without the completion of writing being recognized, the unit notifies the main control unit that writing is incomplete and writes the data that has not been written to the storage medium during the next reading of the storage medium. When the main control unit receives notification that writing is complete, it controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result, and when it receives notification that writing is incomplete, it controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments relate to an automatic ticket gate, a control method for an automatic ticket gate, and a control program for an automatic ticket gate.

Background Art

[0002] An automatic ticket gate installed in the station premises of a railway business (business of operating trains) includes a door that opens and closes a passage for users, a reading / writing unit (R / W unit) that non-contactlessly reads data from an information storage medium held by a user attempting to pass through the passage, such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, and writes data to the IC card, a data processing unit that determines whether a user can pass based on the read data of the reading / writing unit, and a main control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door of the automatic ticket gate according to the determination result of the data processing unit.

[0003] When the main control unit receives a notification of the determination result from the data processing unit, it sends a response signal indicating receipt to the data processing unit. The data processing unit that receives this response signal executes a process of writing data related to passage through the passage, such as fare payment, ticket entry, ticket exit, electronic money, and fare settlement, to the IC card by the reading / writing unit, and notifies the main control unit that the writing is complete. The main control unit that receives this notification of writing completion executes door opening and closing control according to the determination result under the judgment that the comprehensive determination is completed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] If users are moving too fast, or if multiple users enter the passageway without leaving sufficient space between them, the IC card may leave the reading / writing unit before the data writing process is complete. Furthermore, even if the data writing to the IC card is actually complete, the data processing unit may not be able to detect this completion for some reason, and therefore may not issue a notification of completion.

[0006] In this case, the main control unit does not receive notification that the writing process is complete, so it cannot determine that the overall judgment has finished and cannot open or close the door properly. This results in a problem where users who should have been able to pass through, and subsequent users, are unable to pass through the passageway and become stuck.

[0007] The objective of this embodiment is to provide an automatic ticket gate, a control method for the automatic ticket gate, and a control program for the automatic ticket gate that allow a user to pass through even if the writing of data to the information storage medium is not completed, or even if the writing of data to the information storage medium is completed but cannot be detected, as long as the determination result is that passage is permitted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An automatic ticket gate according to one embodiment includes: a door that opens and closes a passage for users; a read / write unit that reads data from a storage medium held by the user and writes data to the same information storage medium; a data processing unit that determines whether the user is allowed to pass through based on the data read by the read / write unit; and a main control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit. The data processing unit writes data related to the user's passage to the storage medium using the read / write unit; notifies the main control unit when it has determined that the writing is complete; if a certain period of time has elapsed without the completion of the writing being determined, it notifies the main control unit that the writing is incomplete and writes the data that has not been written to the storage medium using the read / write unit during the next reading of the storage medium. The main control unit controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is complete, and controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is incomplete.

[0009] A control method for an automatic ticket gate according to one embodiment includes: a door that opens and closes a passage for users; a read / write unit that reads data from a storage medium held by the user and writes data to the information storage medium; a data processing unit that determines whether or not the user is allowed to pass based on the data read by the read / write unit; and a main control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit; wherein the data processing unit writes data related to the user's passage to the storage medium using the read / write unit; notifies the main control unit when it has determined that the writing is complete; if a certain period of time has elapsed without the completion of the writing being determined, it notifies the main control unit that the writing is incomplete and writes the data that has not been written to the storage medium using the read / write unit during the next reading of the storage medium; and the main control unit controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is complete, and controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is incomplete.

[0010] A control method for an automatic ticket gate according to one embodiment is a control program for an automatic ticket gate comprising: a door that opens and closes a passage for users; a read / write unit that reads data from a storage medium held by the user and writes data to the same information storage medium; a computer that includes a data processing unit that determines whether or not the user is allowed to pass based on the data read by the read / write unit, and a main control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit of the computer has a function to write data related to the user's passage to the storage medium by the read / write unit. The system provides the following functions: a function to notify the main control unit when it is determined that the write operation is complete; a function to notify the main control unit that the write operation is incomplete if a certain period of time has elapsed without the completion of the write operation being determined, and a function to write the incomplete data to the storage medium by the read / write unit during the next read operation of the storage medium; and a function to control the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when the main control unit of the computer receives notification of the completion of the write operation; and a function to control the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification of the incomplete write operation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the control of one embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows how data and signals are exchanged between different parts in one embodiment over time. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, multiple automatic ticket gates 1 are arranged at intervals from each other within the station premises operated by a railway company (a company that operates trains). Passageways A for users are formed between each of these automatic ticket gates 1.

[0014] The automatic ticket gate 1 has a rectangular body 2 erected along passage A, and this body 2 is equipped with a magnetic ticket insertion section 3, an IC card scanning section 4, a display section 5, a magnetic ticket ejection section 6, a door 7, multiple human body sensors 8, and the like.

[0015] The magnetic ticket insertion section 3 accepts magnetic tickets, magnetic commuter passes, etc., held by the user. The IC card scanning section 4 is where the user scans or touches a contactless storage medium, such as an IC card 100. The display section 5 displays various information in color using text and images to inform users passing through passage A. The magnetic ticket ejection section 6 ejects magnetic tickets, magnetic commuter passes, etc., that have been inserted into the magnetic ticket insertion section 3 and processed within the main unit 2. The door 7 opens passage A when it is in contact with the main unit 2 as shown by the solid line in the figure, and closes passage A when it rotates as shown by the dashed line in the figure. This door 7 is located on one side of the main unit 2 if passage A exists along only one side of the main unit 2, and on both sides if passage A exists along both sides of the main unit 2. Each human body sensor 8 is located on one side of the main unit 2 at regular intervals along the direction of passage A, and detects the body of a user passing through passage A.

[0016] The IC card 100 has identification information, such as a card number IDi, stored in advance to identify the IC card 100, and is also capable of storing and reading data related to the user's passage, such as data for bidding, ticket sales, electronic money, and fare settlement.

[0017] The identification information stored in the IC card 100 is not limited to the card number IDi; for example, it could be a user-specific ID. The storage medium is not limited to the IC card 100; for example, information terminals such as mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatches, tablet devices, and personal computers can be used.

[0018] The main body 2 includes a main control unit 10 composed of a computer and its peripheral circuits, a reading / writing unit (R / W unit) 11 that non - contactlessly reads data from an IC card 100 placed on the IC card placing unit 4 and writes data to the IC card 100, a sensor control unit 12 that controls each sensor 8 and sends the detection signals of each sensor 8 to the main control unit 10, a door control unit 13 that controls the opening and closing of the door 7 according to the instructions of the main control unit 10, a display control unit 14 that controls the display of the display unit 5 according to the instructions of the main control unit 10, and a data processing unit 15 that determines whether the user can pass based on the read data of the reading / writing unit 11, etc.

[0019] The main control unit 10 controls the opening and closing of the door 7 according to the determination result of the data processing unit 15 and via the door control unit 13, and displays various information related to the user's passage on the display unit 5.

[0020] The data processing unit 15, also referred to as an IC card module, is composed of the same computer as the main control unit 10 or another computer, and as the main functions realized by the control program stored in the computer and the internal memory of the computer, it includes the following control means (1) - (4).

[0021] (1) First control means for determining whether the user can pass based on the read data of the reading / writing unit 11 and notifying the determination result to the main control unit 10.

[0022] (2) Second control means for writing data related to the user's passage, such as data for ticket - in, ticket - out, electronic money, fee settlement, etc., to the IC card 100 by the reading / writing unit 11 when receiving a response signal (response) described later from the main control unit 10.

[0023] (3) Third control means for notifying the main control unit 10 to that effect when it grasps the completion of the writing by the first control means.

[0024] (4) If a certain period of time elapses without the completion of writing by the first control means being recognized (timeout), the fourth control means notifies the main control unit 10 that writing is incomplete, and holds the data that has not been written incomplete in the server 30 via the main control unit 10, and writes the held data to the IC card 100 by the read / write unit 11 when the IC card 100 is read again.

[0025] The main control unit 10 includes the following means (11) to (13) as the main functions realized by the computer constituting the main control unit 10 and the control program stored in the internal memory of that computer.

[0026] (11) An eleventh control means that, upon receiving notification of the judgment result from the data processing unit 15, determines that the overall judgment has been completed and sends a response signal to the data processing unit 15 indicating that it has received the notification.

[0027] (12) A 12th control means that controls the opening and closing of the door 7 in accordance with the determination result of the data processing unit 15 when it receives notification from the data processing unit 15 that the writing is complete after sending the above response signal.

[0028] (13) A thirteenth control means that, after sending the above response signal, receives notification from the data processing unit 15 that the above writing is incomplete, and controls the opening and closing of the door 7 according to the determination result of the data processing unit 15.

[0029] The configuration of automatic ticket gate 1 described above is similar to that of other automatic ticket gates 1. The main control unit 10 of these automatic ticket gates 1 is connected to a server 30, which is a higher-level device of the automatic ticket gate 1, via a communication network 20.

[0030] The control performed by the data processing unit 15 and the main control unit 10 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2. In Figure 2, S11 to S13, enclosed by the dashed line, represent the processing of the control means 10, while the other processing S1 to S10 and S14 to S20 represent the processing of the data processing unit 15. When the read / write unit 11 reads data from the IC card 100 (YES in S1), the data processing unit 15 queries the server 30 through the main control unit 10 to see if the same identification information (e.g., card number IDi) as the identification information of the IC card 100 contained in the data read by the read / write unit 11 exists in the server 30 (S2).

[0031] If the server 30 does not have the same identification information as the IC card 100 (YES in S3), the data processing unit 15 determines whether the user is allowed to pass through based on the data read by the read / write unit 11 (S4), and notifies the main control unit 10 of the determination result (S5).

[0032] When the main control unit 10 receives notification of the determination result, it determines that the overall determination has been completed and sends a response signal to the data processing unit 15 indicating that it has received notification of the determination result. The data processing unit 15 waits for this response signal from the main control unit 10 (S6).

[0033] When the main control unit 10 sends a response signal (YES in S6), the data processing unit 15 writes data related to the user's passage, such as bidding, ticket sales, electronic money, and fare settlement data, to the IC card 100 using the read / write unit 11 (S7), and determines whether the writing will be completed within a certain time (NO in S8, NO in S9, S7).

[0034] When the data processing unit 15 determines that the writing process has been completed within a certain time (YES in S8), it notifies the main control unit 10 that the writing process is complete (S10).

[0035] Upon receiving notification that the writing process is complete, the main control unit 10 determines whether the result of the data processing unit 15 is permission or not (S11). If permission is granted (YES in S11), the main control unit 10 opens the door 7 (S12) and allows the user to pass through passage A. If permission is denied (NO in S11), the main control unit 10 closes the door 7 (S13) and prevents the user from passing through passage A.

[0036] However, if a certain amount of time elapses without the completion of the above write operation being recognized (NO in S8, YES in S9; timeout), the data processing unit 15 notifies the main control unit 10 that the write operation is incomplete (S14), and sends the incomplete data to the server 30 via the main control unit 10 for the server 30 to retain (S15).

[0037] Upon receiving notification that the writing process is incomplete, the main control unit 10 determines whether the result of the data processing unit 15 is permission or not (S11). If permission is granted (YES in S11), the main control unit 10 opens door 7 (S12) and allows the user to pass through passage A. If permission is denied (NO in S11), the main control unit 10 closes door 7 (S13) and prevents the user from passing through passage A.

[0038] The opening and closing control of the door 7 by this main control unit 10 is transmitted via the communication network 20 to the main control unit 10 of the automatic ticket gate 1 adjacent to the automatic ticket gate 1 across the passage A, and is reflected in the opening and closing control of the door 7 of the adjacent automatic ticket gate 1.

[0039] Next, when the read / write unit 11 reads data from the IC card 100 (YES in S1), the data processing unit 15 queries the server 30 through the main control unit 10 to see if the same identification information (e.g., card number IDi) as the identification information of the IC card 100 contained in the data read by the read / write unit 11 exists in the server 30 (S2).

[0040] If the server 30 has the same identification information as the IC card 100 (YES in S3), and the data held in the server 30 in association with that identification information is the same as the data read by the read / write unit 11 (YES in S16), the data processing unit 15 determines whether the user is allowed to pass based on the data read by the read / write unit 11, based on the judgment that there is no data that could not be written and therefore writing that data is unnecessary (S4), and notifies the main control unit 10 of the determination result (S5).

[0041] The processing in S6 to S15 thereafter is the same as described above.

[0042] However, if the server 30 has the same identification information as the IC card 100 (YES in S3), and the data held in the server 30 associated with that identification information is different from the data read by the read / write unit 11 (NO in S16), the data processing unit 15, based on the judgment that there is data that could not be written and that writing of that data is necessary, writes the data held in the server 30 to the IC card 100 using the read / write unit 11, provided that updating the data held in the server 30 (such as electronic money settlement processing) is not necessary (YES in S17).

[0043] Then, the data processing unit 15 reads the data that was just written from the IC card 100 (S19), determines whether the user is allowed to pass through based on the read data (S4), and notifies the main control unit 10 of the determination result (S5).

[0044] The data stored on server 30 is available to automatic ticket gates 1 connected to the communication network 20. It is possible to similarly capture and write the data to the IC card 100 at other automatic ticket gates 1, excluding the automatic ticket gate 1 in question.

[0045] The processing in S6 to S15 thereafter is the same as described above.

[0046] Figure 3 shows how data and signals are exchanged between the read / write unit 11, data processing unit 15, main control unit 10, door 7, and server 30 over time. Even if data writing is not completed, as indicated by the "x" marks, or even if data writing is actually completed but this cannot be detected, if a timeout occurs (after a certain period of time has elapsed), the data that could not be written is retained in the server 30, and a notification of incomplete writing is sent from the data processing unit 15 to the main control unit 10. Upon receiving this notification of incomplete writing, the main control unit 10 executes opening and closing control of the door 7 according to the determination result of the data processing unit 15.

[0047] As described above, whether the data writing to the IC card 100 is completed, or even if the data writing to the IC card 100 is not completed, or even if the data processing unit 15 is unable to detect the completion of the data writing to the IC card 100 for some reason, if the determination result based on the data read from the IC card 100 indicates that passage is permitted, the user will be allowed to pass. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the problem of users who should have been allowed to pass, and subsequent users, being unable to pass through the passage and becoming congested.

[0048] In this case, the data that could not be written is stored in the server 30, and when the same IC card 100 is read again, the data stored in the server 30 is written to the IC card 100, so there will be no problems for subsequent users to pass through.

[0049] The above embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel 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 variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1...Automatic ticket gate, 2...Main unit, 4...IC card reader, 5...Display unit, 7...Door, 8...Human body sensor, 10...Main control unit, 11...Read / write unit, 12...Sensor control unit, 13...Door control unit, 14...Display control unit, 15...Data processing unit, 20...Communication network, 30...Server, 100...IC card (storage medium).

Claims

1. Doors that open and close the passageway for users, A read / write unit that reads data from a storage medium owned by the user and writes data to the same information storage medium, A data processing unit that determines whether or not the user is allowed to pass based on the read data from the read / write unit, A main control unit controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit, Equipped with, The aforementioned data processing unit The data related to the passage of the aforementioned user is written to the storage medium by the read / write unit. When the completion of the aforementioned writing is recognized, the main control unit is notified accordingly. If a certain period of time elapses without the completion of the aforementioned write operation being recognized, the main control unit is notified that the write operation is incomplete, and the data that has not been written is written to the storage medium by the read / write unit during the next read operation of the storage medium. The main control unit controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is complete, and controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is incomplete. Automatic ticket gate.

2. The data processing unit notifies the main control unit of the determination result, When the main control unit receives notification of the determination result, it sends a response signal to the data processing unit indicating receipt of the result. When the data processing unit receives the response signal, it writes the data related to the user's passage to the storage medium using the read / write unit. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned storage medium stores identification information for identifying the storage medium, The aforementioned data processing unit The data that has not yet been written is stored on an external server of the automatic ticket gate along with the identification information of the storage medium. The read / write unit determines whether the server has the same identification information as the storage medium identification information included in the read data. If the server does not have the same identification information as the storage medium, the server will determine whether the user is allowed to pass based on the read data from the read / write unit. If the server has the same identification information as the storage medium, and the data held on the server in association with that identification information is the same as the read data of the read / write unit, then the server determines whether the user is allowed to pass based on the read data of the read / write unit. If the server has the same identification information as the storage medium, and the data held on the server associated with that identification information is different from the data read by the read / write unit, then, provided that updating the data held on the server is unnecessary, the read / write unit writes the data held on the server to the storage medium, reads the written data from the storage medium, and determines whether the user is allowed to pass based on the read data. If the server has the same identification information as the storage medium, and the data held on the server associated with that identification information is different from the data read by the read / write unit, and if the data held on the server needs to be updated, the read / write unit writes the updated data held on the server to the storage medium, reads the written data from the storage medium, and determines whether the user is allowed to pass based on the read data. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1.

4. Doors that open and close the passageway for users, A read / write unit that reads data from a storage medium owned by the user and writes data to the same information storage medium, A data processing unit that determines whether or not the user is allowed to pass based on the read data from the read / write unit, A main control unit controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit, A control method for an automatic ticket gate equipped with, The aforementioned data processing unit The data related to the passage of the aforementioned user is written to the storage medium by the read / write unit. When the completion of the aforementioned writing is recognized, the main control unit is notified accordingly. If a certain period of time elapses without the completion of the aforementioned write operation being recognized, the main control unit is notified that the write operation is incomplete, and the data that has not been written is written to the storage medium by the read / write unit during the next read operation of the storage medium. The main control unit controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is complete, and controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result when it receives notification that the writing is incomplete. Control methods for automatic ticket gates.

5. Doors that open and close the passageway for users, A read / write unit that reads data from a storage medium owned by the user and writes data to the same information storage medium, A computer including a data processing unit that determines whether or not the user is allowed to pass based on the read data from the read / write unit, and a main control unit that controls the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result of the data processing unit, A control program for an automatic ticket gate equipped with, The data processing unit of the aforementioned computer, The function includes writing data related to the passage of the aforementioned user to the storage medium using the read / write unit, A function to notify the main control unit when the completion of the aforementioned writing is detected, If a certain period of time elapses without the completion of the aforementioned write operation being recognized, the main control unit is notified that the write operation is incomplete, and the data that has not been written is written to the storage medium by the read / write unit during the next read operation of the storage medium. To make it happen, The main control unit of the aforementioned computer, Upon receiving notification that the writing process is complete, the system has a function to control the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result, When the aforementioned notification of incomplete writing is received, a function is provided to control the opening and closing of the door according to the determination result, To make it happen Control program for automatic ticket gates.

Images