Automatic ticket gate, ticket gate method, and ticket gate program

Abstract

To provide a technology that enables ticket examination processing for users who use a combination of magnetic and optical reading media.SOLUTION: A first data processing unit reads ticket information recorded in magnetic data on a first medium as first boarding pass information. A second data processing unit reads ticket information indicated by an optical reading code formed on a second medium as second ticket information. A determination unit determines whether or not to permit a user to pass through a ticket gate passage based on combined ticket information where the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit and the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit are combined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for carrying out ticket examination processing for users who use a combination of a magnetic medium and an optically readable medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been automatic ticket gates that perform ticket gate processing for users who use a combination of multiple tickets (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Here, an example will be described in which a user travels from Station A (boarding station) via Station B (intermediate station) to Station C (descending station), passes through the ticket gate passage of the automatic ticket gate installed at the ticket gate of Station C, and exits from the station premises of Station C. The user is assumed to be in possession of, for example, a valid passenger ticket X (the passenger ticket used when entering Station A) that can be used for the section from Station A to Station B, and a valid passenger ticket Y that can be used for the section from Station B to Station C. When exiting at Station C, the user inserts passenger ticket X and passenger ticket Y into the automatic ticket gate in succession. The order in which the passenger tickets are inserted does not matter.

[0004] If the inserted tickets X and Y are valid tickets, the automatic ticket gate determines the section in which these tickets can be combined and used, and if this section includes the section from station A to station C without interruption, allows the user to pass through the ticket gate passage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-203515 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the automatic ticket gate in Patent Document 1 is configured to perform ticket gate processing for users who use multiple magnetic tickets (tickets on which ticket information is recorded as magnetic data).

[0007] There are various types of tickets, including not only magnetic tickets but also optically readable tickets. Optically readable tickets are tickets with an optically readable code (a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark)) on their face that indicates ticket information.

[0008] There is a demand for the development of an automatic ticket gate that can process tickets for users who use a combination of different types of magnetic tickets and optically readable tickets.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for carrying out ticket examination processing for users who use a combination of a magnetic medium and an optically readable medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the automatic ticket gate of the present invention is configured as follows.

[0011] The first data processing unit reads the ticket information recorded as magnetic data on the first medium as first ticket information. The first medium is, for example, a magnetic ticket.

[0012] The second data processing unit reads the ticket information indicated by the optically readable code formed on the second medium as second ticket information. The second medium may be, for example, an optically readable ticket with an optically readable code printed on its face, or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone that displays the optically readable code on the screen of its display.

[0013] The judgment unit judges whether to permit the user to pass through the ticket gate passage based on combined ticket information that combines the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit and the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit.

[0014] According to this configuration, ticket examination processing can be performed for a user who uses a combination of a magnetic medium (first medium) and an optically readable medium (second medium).

[0015] The determination unit may also be configured to perform a first single note determination and a second single note determination, for example, as described below.

[0016] The first single ticket determination is a process performed when the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information before the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information, and is a process that determines whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the first ticket information read this time.The second single ticket determination is a process performed when the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information before the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information, and is a process that determines whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the second ticket information read this time.

[0017] Furthermore, when the determination unit determines in the first single ticket determination or the second single ticket determination that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the determination unit does not perform a combination determination.

[0018] With this configuration, ticket gate processing can be properly performed not only for users who use a combination of a magnetic medium and an optically readable medium, but also for users who use a single magnetic medium and a single optically readable medium.

[0019] Also, for example, the judgment unit may be configured to determine whether the first ticket information is valid in the first single ticket judgment, and if it is determined to be invalid, to determine that the user should not be allowed to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing a combination judgment.

[0020] In addition, the judgment unit may be configured to, for example, determine that the first ticket information is valid in the first single ticket judgment and not determine that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, and if the second data processing unit does not read the second ticket information by the time the first timing is reached, determine that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing a combination judgment.

[0021] The first timing may be a timing when a predetermined time has elapsed since the time when the first ticket information is read, or may be a timing determined based on another time.

[0022] Also, for example, the judgment unit may be configured to determine whether the second ticket information is valid in the second single ticket judgment, and if it is determined to be invalid, to determine that the user should not be allowed to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing a combination judgment.

[0023] In addition, the judgment unit may be configured to, for example, determine that the second ticket information is valid in the second single ticket judgment and not determine that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, and if the first data processing unit does not read the first ticket information by the time the second timing is reached, determine that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing a combination judgment.

[0024] The second timing may be a timing when a predetermined time has elapsed since the time the second ticket information was read, or may be a timing determined based on another time.

[0025] The automated ticket gate may also be configured to include an output unit that, when the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information, outputs a message indicating that the second ticket information is in use. Effect of the Invention

[0026] According to this invention, ticket examination processing can be performed for users who use a combination of a magnetic medium and an optically readable medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern in which a user uses a combination of a magnetic ticket and an optically readable ticket. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of an automatic ticket gate; [Diagram 3] 11 is a flowchart showing a ticket gate process in an automatic ticket gate. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart showing first single ticket processing at an automatic ticket gate. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart showing second single ticket processing at an automated ticket gate. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart showing a combination determination process of an automated ticket gate. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart showing a first single ticket process in an automated ticket gate according to a modified example. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing second single ticket processing in an automated ticket gate according to a modified example. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a combination determination process of an automated ticket gate according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0029] <1. Application Examples> The automated ticket gate in this example is installed at the ticket gate of a station, and performs ticket screening for users entering and leaving the station. The automated ticket gate in this example accepts a passenger ticket held by the user, and performs ticket screening based on the passenger ticket information recorded on the passenger ticket. The automated ticket gate in this example is configured to accept magnetic tickets (corresponding to the first medium in this invention) and optically readable tickets (corresponding to the second medium in this invention) as passenger tickets. The automated ticket gate in this example accepts magnetic tickets and optically readable tickets, and can perform ticket screening for users by combining these passenger tickets.

[0030] The automated ticket gate may be configured to accept types of tickets other than magnetic tickets and optically readable tickets (for example, known contactless IC tickets).

[0031] The magnetic ticket referred to here is a ticket on which the ticket information is recorded as magnetic data. An optically readable ticket is a ticket on which an optically readable code (for example, a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark)) indicating the ticket information is formed on the face of the ticket. A contactless IC ticket is a ticket that stores the ticket information in memory and has a close-proximity wireless communication function with a communication area of ​​several centimeters. The ticket information also includes information on the validity period and the validity zone.

[0032] Here, a description of the configuration of the automatic ticket gate to accept contactless IC tickets will be omitted.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 1, an example of ticket inspection processing for a user who has received a combination of a magnetic ticket and an optically readable ticket will be described.

[0034] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, an example will be described in which a user travels from station A to station C via station B. The user has a passenger ticket X and a passenger ticket Y. The passenger ticket X is, for example, a ticket purchased by the user from a ticket machine (not shown) installed at station A. The valid section of the passenger ticket X includes the section from station A to station B, but does not include the entire section from station A to station C (in FIG. 1, the valid section of the passenger ticket X is shown as the section from station A to station B). In this example, the passenger ticket X is an optically readable ticket. The passenger ticket Y is, for example, a commuter pass owned by the user. The valid section of the passenger ticket Y includes the section from station B to station C, but does not include the entire section from station A to station C (in FIG. 1, the valid section of the passenger ticket Y is shown as the section from station B to station C). In this example, the passenger ticket Y is a magnetic ticket.

[0035] When entering station A, the user has the optical reading code (ticket information) formed on the face of ticket X read by an automatic ticket gate, and enters the premises of station A. In other words, the user does not use ticket Y in the ticket gate process when entering station A.

[0036] When the user exits at station C, the user has the automated ticket gate read the optical reading code formed on the face of ticket X, and also has the automated ticket gate read the magnetic data (ticket information) recorded on ticket Y. The order in which the user has the automated ticket gate read the ticket information may be ticket X, then ticket Y, or ticket Y, then ticket X.

[0037] If both tickets X and Y are valid, the automated ticket gate combines the validity zone of ticket X with the validity zone of ticket Y. If the combined zone includes the zone from station A to station C without interruption, the automated ticket gate allows the user to pass through the ticket gate passage (allows the user to exit at station C).

[0038] Note that the above example merely explains one example of a case where a user uses a magnetic ticket and an optically readable ticket in combination, and does not mean that the situation in which a user uses a magnetic ticket and an optically readable ticket in combination, or the combination pattern of passenger tickets X and passenger tickets Y, are limited to the above example. For example, passenger ticket X or passenger ticket Y may be a special ticket such as a one-day pass, or a coupon ticket. Furthermore, passenger ticket X may be a magnetic ticket and passenger ticket Y may be an optically readable ticket. Furthermore, a user may use a magnetic ticket and an optically readable ticket in combination not only when exiting a station, but also when entering a station.

[0039] In this way, the automated ticket gate of this example can perform ticket gate processing for users who use a combination of a magnetic ticket and an optically readable ticket.

[0040] <2. Configuration example> 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the automated ticket gate of this example. The automated ticket gate 1 comprises a control unit 11, a magnetic ticket processing unit 12, an optically readable ticket processing unit 13, a user detection unit 14, a display unit 15, a door opening / closing unit 16, a higher-level communication unit 17, a timer 18, and a standard radio wave receiving unit 19.

[0041] The control unit 11 controls the operation of each section of the main body of the automatic ticket gate 1. The control unit 11 also includes a determination section 20. The determination section 20 included in the control unit 11 will be described in detail later.

[0042] The magnetic ticket processing unit 12 has a transport unit that selectively transports the magnetic ticket inserted into the insertion slot to the discharge slot or the recovery unit along a transport path. The insertion slot is provided on the entrance side of the ticket gate passage, and the discharge slot is provided on the exit side of the ticket gate passage. The magnetic ticket processing unit 12 has a reading head and a writing head. The reading head is disposed closer to the insertion slot than the writing head. In addition, a holding unit that can temporarily hold the magnetic ticket is provided between the reading head and the writing head. The magnetic ticket processing unit 12 abuts the reading head against the magnetic ticket being transported along the transport path, and reads the ticket information recorded on the magnetic ticket as magnetic data. In addition, the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 abuts the writing head against the magnetic ticket being transported along the transport path, and records the ticket information on the magnetic ticket as magnetic data. The magnetic ticket processing unit 12 holds the magnetic ticket, whose ticket information (magnetic data) has been read by the reading head, in the holding unit as necessary (temporarily stops transport of the magnetic ticket).

[0043] The magnetic ticket processing unit 12 corresponds to the first data processing unit in this invention.

[0044] The optically readable ticket processor 13 captures an image of the optically readable code of an optically readable ticket held over a reading area, and obtains the ticket information indicated by the captured optically readable code. The reading area is located on the entrance side of the ticket gate passage.

[0045] The optically readable ticket processor 13 corresponds to the second data processor of the present invention.

[0046] The user detection unit 14 has a plurality of photoelectric sensors arranged in the direction in which users pass through the ticket gate passage. The user detection unit 14 tracks users passing through the ticket gate passage by detecting the positions of the users passing through the ticket gate passage with the plurality of photoelectric sensors.

[0047] The display unit 15 has a display that displays a message to a user who has entered the ticket gate passage. The display is provided on the exit side of the ticket gate passage.

[0048] The door opening / closing unit 16 opens and closes the door located on the exit side of the user based on the result of the determination as to whether the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage.

[0049] The upper communication unit 17 communicates data with an upper server that manages the status of the optically readable ticket. The states of the optically readable ticket include a not-entered state, an entered state, an exited state, and a used state. The not-entered state is a state in which the optically readable ticket has never been used to enter a station. The entered state is a state in which the optically readable ticket has been used to enter a station but has not been used to exit from the station. The exited state is a state in which the corresponding optically readable ticket has been used to exit from a station. The used state is a state in which the corresponding optically readable ticket cannot be used in ticket gate processing when using a railway.

[0050] The used state is necessary when there is an optically readable ticket that can be used repeatedly for rail travel.

[0051] The timer 18 is a built-in clock that keeps time.

[0052] Next, we will explain the judgment unit 20 included in the control unit 11. The judgment unit 20 judges whether or not a user who has entered a ticket gate passage is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage. The judgment unit 20 has a valid ticket judgment unit 21, a first single ticket judgment unit 22, a second single ticket judgment unit 23, a combination unit 24, and a combination judgment unit 25.

[0053] The valid ticket determination unit 21 determines whether the ticket (magnetic ticket and optically read ticket) whose ticket information has been read is valid. In other words, the valid ticket determination unit 21 determines whether the ticket information read from the ticket is valid. For example, the valid ticket determination unit 21 determines that the ticket is not valid (invalid) if today is not within the validity period. In addition, the valid ticket determination unit 21 determines that the ticket whose ticket information has been read is invalid if it is a used ticket.

[0054] The first single ticket determination unit 22 determines whether a user can pass through the ticket gate based on the ticket information read by the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 from the magnetic ticket inserted into the insertion slot. The first single ticket determination unit 22 does not use the ticket information read by the optical ticket processing unit 13 from the optically readable ticket held over the reading area to determine whether a user can pass through the ticket gate. Furthermore, if the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 reads the ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the insertion slot before the optical ticket processing unit 13 reads the ticket information from the optically readable ticket held over the reading area, the first single ticket determination unit 22 determines whether a user can pass through the ticket gate based on the ticket information read from the magnetic ticket.

[0055] The second single ticket determination unit 23 determines whether a user can pass through the ticket gate based on the ticket information read by the optical ticket processing unit 13 from the optically read ticket held over the reading area. The second single ticket determination unit 23 does not use the ticket information read by the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 from the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot to determine whether a user can pass through the ticket gate. Furthermore, if the optical ticket processing unit 13 reads the ticket information from the optically read ticket held over the reading area before the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 reads the ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot, the second single ticket determination unit 23 determines whether a user can pass through the ticket gate based on the ticket information read from the optically read ticket.

[0056] The combination unit 24 generates combined ticket information by combining the ticket information of the magnetic ticket and the ticket information of the optically readable ticket. For example, the combination unit 24 combines a railway section that can be used with the magnetic ticket whose ticket information has been read, and a railway section that can be used with the optically readable ticket whose ticket information has been read, and generates combined ticket information that is valid for this combined section (hereinafter referred to as a combined section).

[0057] The combination determination unit 25 determines whether or not a user can pass through a ticket gate based on the combined ticket information generated by the combination unit 24.

[0058] The control unit 11 of the automated ticket gate 1 is composed of a hardware CPU, memory, and other electronic circuits. When the hardware CPU executes the ticket gate program according to the present invention, it operates as the determination unit 20. That is, when the hardware CPU executes the ticket gate program according to the present invention, it operates as the valid ticket determination unit 21, the first single ticket determination unit 22, the second single ticket determination unit 23, the combination unit 24, and the combination determination unit 25 that constitute the determination unit 20. The memory also has an area for expanding the ticket gate program according to the present invention and an area for temporarily storing data generated during the execution of the ticket gate program. The control unit 11 may be an LSI that integrates the hardware CPU, memory, and the like. The hardware CPU is a computer that executes the ticket gate method according to the present invention.

[0059] <3. Example of operation> 3 is a flow chart showing the ticket gate process of the automatic ticket gate of this example. The automatic ticket gate 1 of this example waits for the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 to read the passenger ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the insertion slot, or for the optically readable ticket processing unit 13 to read the passenger ticket information from the optically readable ticket held over the reading area (s1, s2). When the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 reads the passenger ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the insertion slot, the automatic ticket gate 1 judges whether the magnetic ticket is a valid ticket that can be used for ticket gate process (s3). A magnetic ticket judged to be invalid in s3 is, for example, a magnetic ticket that is not within the validity period today. In addition to the above, other conditions for judging invalid may be set in s3. The valid ticket judgment unit 21 performs the process related to s3.

[0060] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s3 that the ticket is valid, it performs a first single ticket determination (s4) which will be described later, and returns to s1. If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s3 that the ticket is invalid (not valid), it ejects the magnetic ticket from which the ticket information has been read into the ejection slot, closes the door located on the exit side for the user (s7, s8), and returns to s1. The order of the processes in s7 and s8 may be either first or in parallel.

[0061] Furthermore, when the optical ticket processing unit 13 reads the ticket information from the optical ticket held over the reading area, the automated ticket gate 1 determines whether or not this optical ticket is a valid ticket that can be used for ticket gate processing (s5). Optical tickets that are determined to be invalid in s5 are, for example, optical tickets that are not within the validity period today and optical tickets that have been used. In s5, other conditions for determining invalidity may also be defined. The valid ticket determination unit 21 performs the processing related to s5.

[0062] Here, a brief explanation will be given of the management of the usage status of optically readable tickets. As is well known, when an automatic ticket gate 1 uses a magnetic ticket in ticket gate processing and allows a user to pass through a ticket gate passage, the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 writes the usage status on the magnetic ticket as magnetic data as part of the ticket information, and collects the magnetic ticket. Therefore, the usage status of a magnetic ticket can be obtained by reading the ticket information. On the other hand, when an optically readable ticket is used in ticket gate processing and allows a user to pass through a ticket gate passage, the automatic ticket gate 1 cannot record the usage status on the optically readable ticket in the optically readable ticket processing unit 13. Therefore, the usage status of an optically readable ticket cannot be obtained even if the ticket information is read.

[0063] For this reason, for example, the usage status of an optically readable ticket is managed by a higher-level server, and when the automatic ticket gate 1 reads the ticket information from the optically readable ticket, it acquires the usage status by inquiring about the usage status of the optically readable ticket to the higher-level server. Also, when the optically readable ticket is used in the ticket gate process and the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the automatic ticket gate 1 instructs the higher-level server to update the usage status. The automatic ticket gate 1 communicates with the higher-level server through the higher-level communication unit 17. The states of the optically readable ticket are not yet entered, entered, exited, and used.

[0064] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s5 that the ticket is invalid (not valid), it closes the door provided on the exit side for the user in s8 and returns to s1.

[0065] In this way, in this example, when the automatic ticket gate 1 reads the ticket information from a valid magnetic ticket before the optically readable ticket, it performs a first single ticket determination in s4, and when the automatic ticket gate 1 reads the ticket information from a valid optically readable ticket before the magnetic ticket, it performs a second single ticket determination in s6.

[0066] Next, the first single ticket determination in s4 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the first single ticket determination. The automated ticket gate 1 determines whether to permit the user to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the ticket information of the magnetic ticket accepted in s1 (s11). In s11, for example, if there is no cycle error and the magnetic ticket can be used for entering and exiting the station where the automated ticket gate 1 is installed, it is determined that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage. In addition, if there is a cycle error or the magnetic ticket cannot be used for entering and exiting the station where the automated ticket gate 1 is installed, it is determined that the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage. As is well known, a cycle error is when the previous use was to enter the station premises and the current use is to enter the station premises, or when the previous use was to exit from the station premises and the current use is to exit from the station premises.

[0067] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s11 that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, it opens the door located on the exit side for this user (s16), ends this first single ticket determination, and returns to s1. In s16, the automated ticket gate 1 ejects the magnetic ticket inserted into the current insertion slot into the ejection slot as necessary. At this time, the automated ticket gate 1 writes information related to the current use to the magnetic ticket as magnetic data as part of the ticket information in the magnetic ticket processing unit 12. The automated ticket gate 1 may also collect the magnetic ticket inserted into the current insertion slot in s16.

[0068] When the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s11 that the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, it waits until the first timing is reached or the optical ticket processor 13 reads the ticket information from the optical ticket held over the reading area (s12, s13). The first timing may be set as a reference, for example, to the timing when the magnetic ticket is inserted into the slot, the timing when it is determined to be valid in s2, or the timing when it is determined to not be permitted to pass through in s11, and may be set to a certain time (for example, about 3 to 5 seconds) after the reference timing.

[0069] When the automatic ticket gate 1 determines in s11 that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, it reserves the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot this time (a valid magnetic ticket whose ticket information has been read) in the reserve section.

[0070] When the first timing is reached without the optical ticket processor 13 reading the ticket information from the optical ticket held over the reading area, the automated ticket gate 1 releases the magnetic ticket held in the holder to the outlet and closes the door on the exit side for this user (s17, s18), completing this first single ticket determination and returning to s1. The processing order of s17 and s18 may be either first or in parallel.

[0071] The first bill judgment unit 22 performs the judgments in steps s11 to s13.

[0072] When the optical ticket processor 13 reads the ticket information from the optical ticket held over the reading area before the first timing is reached, the automated ticket gate 1 determines whether or not the optical ticket is a valid ticket that can be used for ticket gate processing (s14). S14 is the same process as s5 described above. The valid ticket determination unit 21 performs the determination in s14.

[0073] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s14 that the optically readable ticket is invalid, it executes the processes in s17 and s18 described above and ends the first single ticket determination. If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s14 that the optically readable ticket is valid, it performs a combination determination (s15) which will be described later, and ends the first single ticket determination.

[0074] Next, the second single ticket judgment in s6 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the second single ticket judgment. The automated ticket gate 1 judges whether to permit the user to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the ticket information of the optically readable ticket accepted in s2 (s21). In s21, for example, if no cycle error has occurred and the optically readable ticket can be used to enter and exit the station where the automated ticket gate 1 is installed, it is judged that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage. Also, if a cycle error has occurred or the optically readable ticket cannot be used to enter and exit the station where the automated ticket gate 1 is installed, it is judged that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage.

[0075] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s21 that the user should be allowed to pass through the ticket gate passage, it opens the door located on the exit side for that user (s26), ends this second single ticket determination, and returns to s1. In s26, the automated ticket gate 1 instructs the upper server to update the usage status of the optically readable ticket used in this ticket gate process. This allows the upper server to properly manage the usage status of the optically readable ticket.

[0076] When the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s21 that the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, it waits until a second timing is reached or until the magnetic ticket processor 12 reads the ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot (s22, s23). The second timing may be set as a reference, for example, to the timing when the ticket information is read from the optically readable ticket, the timing when it is determined to be valid in s5, or the timing when it is determined in s21 that passage is not permitted, and may be set to a certain time (e.g., about 3 to 5 seconds) after the reference timing.

[0077] In addition, the certain period of time from the timing used as a reference when determining the first timing and the certain period of time from the timing used as a reference when determining the second timing may be the same or different.

[0078] When the second timing is reached without the magnetic ticket processing unit 12 reading the ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot, the automatic ticket gate 1 closes the door located on the exit side for this user (s28), ends this second single ticket determination, and returns to s1.

[0079] The second bill determination unit 23 performs the determinations in steps s21 to s23.

[0080] When the magnetic ticket processor 12 reads the ticket information from the magnetic ticket inserted into the slot before the second timing is reached, the automated ticket gate 1 judges whether the magnetic ticket is a valid ticket that can be used for ticket gate processing (s24). S24 is the same process as s5 described above. The valid ticket judgement unit 21 makes the judgement for s24.

[0081] If the automatic ticket gate 1 determines in s24 that the magnetic ticket is not valid, it ejects the magnetic ticket whose ticket information has been read into the ejection slot and closes the door located on the exit side for the user (s27, s28), completing this second single ticket determination and returning to s1.

[0082] Furthermore, if the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s24 that the magnetic ticket is valid, it performs a combination determination, which will be described below (s25), and ends this second single ticket determination.

[0083] The combination determination in s15 and s25 is the same process.

[0084] 6 is a flow chart showing this combination determination. As is clear from the above explanation, the automated ticket gate 1 reads the ticket information from the magnetic ticket and the optically readable ticket before starting this combination determination. Furthermore, these magnetic tickets and optically readable tickets are valid tickets.

[0085] The automated ticket gate 1 generates combined ticket information by combining the ticket information read from the magnetic ticket and the ticket information read from the optically read ticket (s31). The combination unit 24 performs the process of s31. The combination unit 24 generates combined ticket information by combining, for example, a railway section that can be used with the magnetic ticket from which the ticket information has been read and a railway section that can be used with the optically read ticket from which the ticket information has been read.

[0086] The automated ticket gate 1 judges whether or not to permit the user to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the combined ticket information generated by the combination unit 24 (s32). The combination judgment unit 25 performs the process related to s32. For example, in the case of a ticket gate process for a user exiting from inside a station, the combination judgment unit 25 judges that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage if the entire section used by the user this time is included without interruption in the combined section. In other words, the combination judgment unit 25 judges that the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage if a part of the section used by the user this time is not included in the combined section.

[0087] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s32 that the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, it ejects the magnetic ticket from which the ticket information has been read into the ejection port, closes the door on the exit side for the user (s34, s35), ends this combination determination, and returns to s1. The order of the processes in s34 and s35 may be either executed first, or may be executed in parallel.

[0088] If the automated ticket gate 1 determines in s32 that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, it opens the door located on the exit side for the user (s33), ends this combination determination, and returns to s1. In s33, the automated ticket gate 1 ejects the magnetic ticket inserted into the current insertion slot into the ejection slot as necessary. At this time, the automated ticket gate 1 writes information related to the current use to the magnetic ticket as magnetic data as part of the ticket information in the magnetic ticket processing unit 12. The automated ticket gate 1 may also collect the magnetic ticket inserted into the current insertion slot in s33. The automated ticket gate 1 also instructs the upper server to update the usage status of the optically readable ticket used in the current ticket gate process in s33.

[0089] In this way, the automated ticket gate 1 of this example can perform ticket gate processing for users who use a combination of magnetic tickets and optically readable tickets. Also, the automated ticket gate 1 of this example can perform ticket gate processing for users who use one magnetic ticket or one optically readable ticket in the same way as known automated ticket gates, so there is no decrease in convenience for users.

[0090] <4. Modifications> The automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example has the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

[0091] The automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example further improves security against unauthorized use of optically readable tickets. As is well known, the optically readable code formed on the face of an optically readable ticket can be easily duplicated by copying or the like. The automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example improves security against unauthorized use of an optically readable ticket that has undergone the above-mentioned combination determination process at another automated ticket gate 1.

[0092] In this modified example, the upper server not only manages the status of the optically readable ticket (not yet entered, entered, exited, used), but also manages a status flag that indicates whether the optically readable ticket is currently being used for combination determination. When the upper server is notified by the automated ticket gate 1 that the combination determination is in progress, it turns on this status flag, and when the automatic ticket gate 1 notifies the upper server that the combination determination is in progress state has been released, it turns off this status flag.

[0093] The automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example executes processes substantially equivalent to those shown in Fig. 3. The difference is that in the determination at s5, an optically readable ticket whose status flag is on (an optically readable ticket whose ticket information is being used to determine the combination) is not determined to be a valid ticket (it is determined to be invalid).

[0094] Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing the first single ticket judgment of the automated ticket gate of this modified example. In Fig. 7, the same steps as in Fig. 4 are given the same step numbers. Here, only the differences from the above example will be explained. In the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example, when the optical ticket processor 13 reads the ticket information from the optical ticket held over the reading area before the first timing is reached in s13, it judges whether or not this optical ticket is a valid ticket that can be used for ticket gate processing (s41). In s41, even an optical ticket with an on status flag (an optical ticket whose ticket information is being used for combination judgment) is not judged to be a valid ticket (it is judged to be invalid).

[0095] Furthermore, when the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example determines in s41 that the ticket is valid, it notifies the upper server that the optically read ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time is in a combination determination state (s42), and starts the combination determination in s15. In response to the notification from the automated ticket gate 1, the upper server turns on the status flag of the corresponding optically read ticket. This registers with the upper server that the ticket information read from the optically read ticket this time is currently being used for combination determination.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 7, the process other than the above for determining whether the bill is a first single note is the same as the process shown in FIG. 4, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0097] Figure 8 is a flow chart showing the second single ticket judgment of the automated ticket gate of this modified example. In Figure 8, the same steps as in Figure 5 are given the same step numbers. Here, only the differences from the above example will be explained. If the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example judges in s21 that passage should not be permitted, it notifies the upper server that the optically read ticket from which the ticket information has been read is in a combination judgment state (s51), and performs the processes from s22 onwards.

[0098] In this way, the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example differs from the above example in that the process relating to s51 is added.

[0099] Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing the combination determination of the automated ticket gate of this modified example. In Fig. 9, the same processes as those in Fig. 6 are given the same step numbers. Here, only the differences from the above example will be explained. If the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example determines in s32 that passage is not permitted, it notifies the upper server that the combination determination status of the optically read ticket whose ticket information has been read this time is cancelled (s61), and performs the processes from s34 onwards. The automated ticket gate 1 of the modified example may perform the processes of s61, s34 and s35 in any order, and may perform these three processes in parallel.

[0100] Furthermore, when the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example determines in s32 that passage is permitted, it opens the door provided on the exit side for the user (s62), ends this combination determination, and returns to s1. In s62, the automated ticket gate 1 notifies the upper server of the cancellation of the combination determination in progress state, together with an instruction to update the usage status of the optically readable ticket used in this ticket gate process.

[0101] In this way, even if an optically readable ticket is being used in combination determination at another automated ticket gate 1, the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example can cause the other automated ticket gate 1 to determine that the optically readable ticket is invalid. In other words, even if the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example reads ticket information from an optically readable ticket being used in combination determination at another automated ticket gate 1, the automated ticket gate 1 can determine that the optically readable ticket is invalid. This improves security against the illegal use at multiple automated ticket gates 1 of optically readable tickets that were illegally copied at approximately the same time.

[0102] In addition, the optically readable ticket in the above description is not limited to a medium on which an optically readable code is formed (printed) on the face of the ticket, but may also be a portable terminal such as a smartphone that displays an optically readable code on a display.

[0103] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and that the components can be modified and embodied in the implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0104] Furthermore, the correspondence between the configuration according to the present invention and the configuration according to the above-mentioned embodiment can be described as follows. <Additional Notes> a first data processing unit (12) that reads the ticket information recorded as magnetic data on the first medium as first ticket information; a second data processing unit (13) that reads the ticket information indicated by the optically readable code formed on the second medium as second ticket information; and a judgment unit (20) that judges whether or not to permit a user to pass through a ticket gate passage based on combined ticket information that combines the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit (12) and the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit (13). [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1. Automatic ticket gate 11…Control unit 12...Magnetic ticket processing unit 13...Optical reading ticket processing unit 14...User detection unit 15…Display section 16…Door opening and closing section 17…Host communication unit 18...Timer 19…Standard radio wave receiver 20…Judgment section 21…Valid ticket determination section 22...1st single ticket judgment section 23...Second single ticket judgment section 24…Assembly section 25…Combination judgment section

Claims

1. a first data processing unit that reads the ticket information recorded as magnetic data on the first medium as first ticket information; a second data processing unit that reads, as second ticket information, ticket information indicated by an optically readable code formed on the second medium; a determination unit that performs a combination determination to determine whether or not to permit a user to pass through a ticket gate based on combined ticket information that combines the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit and the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit, The determination unit is when the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information before the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information, a first single ticket determination is performed to determine whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the first ticket information read this time; when the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information before the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information, a second single ticket determination is performed to determine whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the second ticket information read this time; The automatic ticket gate does not perform the combination determination when it is determined in the first single ticket determination or the second single ticket determination that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage.

2. The automatic ticket gate described in claim 1, wherein the judgment unit performs a valid ticket judgment to determine whether the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit is valid, and if the valid ticket judgment determines that the first ticket information is not valid, the judgment unit determines not to allow the user to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing the combination judgment.

3. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 2, wherein when the determination unit determines that the first ticket information is valid in the valid ticket determination and does not determine that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, if the second data processing unit does not read the second ticket information by the time a first timing is reached, the determination unit determines that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing the combination determination.

4. The automatic ticket gate described in claim 1, wherein the judgment unit performs a valid ticket judgment to determine whether the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit is valid, and if the valid ticket judgment determines that the second ticket information is not valid, the judgment unit determines not to allow the user to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing the combination judgment.

5. An automatic ticket gate as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the determination unit also determines whether the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit in the valid ticket determination is valid, and if the valid ticket determination determines that the second ticket information is not valid, determines not to allow the user to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing the combination determination.

6. The automatic ticket gate according to claim 4 or 5, wherein when the valid ticket determination determines that the second ticket information is valid and does not determine that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, if the first data processing unit does not read the first ticket information by the time a second timing is reached, the determination unit determines that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage without performing the combination determination.

7. An automatic ticket gate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an output unit which, when the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information, outputs a message indicating that the second ticket information is in use.

8. a first reading step of reading, by a first data processing unit, passenger ticket information recorded as magnetic data on a first medium as first passenger ticket information; a second reading step of reading, by a second data processing unit, the ticket information indicated by the optically readable code formed on the second medium as second ticket information; a determination step of performing a combination determination for determining whether or not to permit a user to pass through a ticket gate based on combined ticket information that combines the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit and the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit, The determining step includes: when the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information before the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information, a first single ticket determination is performed to determine whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the first ticket information read this time; when the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information before the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information, a second single ticket determination is performed to determine whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the second ticket information read this time; a step of not making the combination determination when it is determined in the first single ticket determination or the second single ticket determination that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage.

9. a first reading step of reading, by a first data processing unit, passenger ticket information recorded as magnetic data on a first medium as first passenger ticket information; a second reading step of reading, by a second data processing unit, the ticket information indicated by the optically readable code formed on the second medium as second ticket information; a determination step of making a combination determination as to whether or not to permit a user to pass through a ticket gate based on combined ticket information that combines the first ticket information read by the first data processing unit and the second ticket information read by the second data processing unit, The determining step includes: when the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information before the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information, a first single ticket determination is performed to determine whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the first ticket information read this time; when the second data processing unit reads the second ticket information before the first data processing unit reads the first ticket information, a second single ticket determination is performed to determine whether or not the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the second ticket information read this time; a step of not making the combination determination when it is determined in the first single ticket determination or the second single ticket determination that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage.

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