Bus boarding and disembarkation assistance system for the visually impaired

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bus boarding and alighting assistance system for visually impaired people. The present invention comprises a boarding / alighting guidance terminal installed inside a bus to support boarding / alighting guidance for visually impaired persons, an external speaker installed outside the boarding gate of the bus to output an arrival guidance sound including the bus route number, a user terminal with a user app installed that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal via a first wireless communication method, a user-shared remote control that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal via a second wireless communication method, and a manager terminal with a manager app installed that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal via the first wireless communication method. The boarding / alighting guidance terminal controls the arrival guidance sound to be output through the external speaker when the boarding door installed at the boarding gate of the bus is opened after the bus arrives at a bus stop, and controls the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when a request for re-arrival guidance is received from a user terminal or user-shared remote control held by a user intending to board the bus. According to the present invention, it is possible to safely and efficiently support the boarding and alighting of buses for visually impaired people while utilizing low cost and a simple system configuration.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons that can safely and efficiently support the boarding and alighting of visually impaired persons while utilizing low cost and a simple system configuration. Background Technology

[0003] Transportation vulnerable groups, such as the visually impaired, require access to public transportation; among them, road-based public transportation, particularly buses, is used frequently and is considered an essential means of transportation in daily life.

[0004] National agencies, including local governments, implement welfare policies that provide monthly subsidies for a portion of bus fares to transportation-vulnerable groups, including the visually impaired; however, if the visually impaired face practical difficulties in accessing and boarding buses, the effectiveness of such support may be diminished.

[0005] However, there is a problem in that the bus boarding environment has not been improved due to various reasons, such as the excessive investment required to build a system to support bus boarding for the visually impaired, concerns about malfunctions arising from integration with existing bus information systems, and the complexity of the system and the resulting difficulties in maintenance.

[0006] Therefore, in order for visually impaired individuals to actually enjoy the benefits of public transportation support, it is required to secure technical means that facilitate bus access and boarding. Prior art literature

[0008] Published Patent Application No. 10-2023-0114080 (Publication Date: August 1, 2023, Title: Traffic Information System for the Transportationally Disadvantaged) Published Patent Application No. 10-2017-0092231 (Publication Date: August 11, 2017, Title: Traffic Information System for the Visually Impaired and Control Method thereof, Recording Medium for Performing the Same) Published Patent Application No. 10-2022-0123825 (Publication Date: September 13, 2022, Title: Bus Notification System for the Convenience of the Visually Impaired) Registered Patent Application No. 10-2563075 (Registration Date: July 31, 2023, Title: Bus Stop System for the Visually Impaired) The problem to be solved

[0009] The technical objective of the present invention is to provide a bus boarding and alighting support system for the visually impaired that can safely and efficiently support bus boarding and alighting for the visually impaired while utilizing low cost and a simple system configuration.

[0010] In addition, the technical problem of the present invention is to solve the issue where a visually impaired person cannot verify whether the bus currently arriving at the bus stop is the bus they are to board by providing guidance through the route number announcement broadcast provided by the bus.

[0011] In addition, the technical problem of the present invention is to solve the issue where visually impaired individuals have difficulty boarding a bus because they cannot know the stopping location, direction, distance, and boarding gate location of the bus they wish to board, by providing guidance through a route number announcement at the boarding gate.

[0012] Furthermore, the technical objective of the present invention is to support the accurate boarding of buses by visually impaired individuals by providing real-time information on the status of arriving buses by route number when multiple buses arrive at a bus stop simultaneously, stop at their respective locations, and open their boarding gates, and by guiding them to check and select the route number of the bus they wish to board.

[0013] In addition, the technical objective of the present invention is to solve the problem of difficulty for visually impaired people to use buses because they cannot know where the stop request bell is located, by remotely operating the existing stop request bell through a public remote control or an app.

[0014] Furthermore, the technical objective of the present invention is to recognize the moment when the boarding door opens after the bus has stopped as the bus has arrived, and to provide route number announcements and app displays to safely and efficiently support the boarding and alighting of visually impaired individuals, thereby ensuring safe bus usage. means of solving the problem

[0016] A bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention for solving such technical problems comprises: a boarding and alighting guidance terminal installed inside a bus to support bus boarding and alighting guidance for visually impaired persons; an external speaker installed outside the boarding gate of the bus to output an arrival guidance sound including the bus route number; a user terminal with a user app installed that communicates with the boarding and alighting guidance terminal via a first wireless communication method; a user-common remote control that communicates with the boarding and alighting guidance terminal via a second wireless communication method; and a manager terminal with a manager app installed that communicates with the boarding and alighting guidance terminal via the first wireless communication method. The boarding and alighting guidance terminal controls the arrival guidance sound to be output through the external speaker when the boarding door installed at the boarding gate of the bus is opened after the bus arrives at a bus stop, and controls the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when a request for re-arrival guidance is received from a user terminal or user-common remote control held by a user intending to board the bus.

[0017] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, the boarding and alighting guidance terminal is characterized by controlling the operation of a disembarking support relay connected in parallel to a disembarking bell switch provided inside the bus so that the disembarking bell operates without the user physically pressing the disembarking bell when a request for disembarking bell operation is received from a user terminal or a user-shared remote control carried by a user boarding the bus.

[0018] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for a visually impaired person according to the present invention, the boarding and alighting guidance terminal controls the bus to output an arrival guidance sound at least once through an external speaker when the boarding door is opened after the bus arrives and receives a boarding door opening / closing signal from a boarding door opening / closing detection sensor that detects the opening / closing of the boarding door, and controls the bus arrival information including the bus route number to be wirelessly transmitted to the user terminal so that a boarding support mode is performed in which the bus arrival information is displayed through a user app running on the user terminal.

[0019] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for a visually impaired person according to the present invention, in the boarding support mode, the user app displays the bus arrival information on the screen of the user terminal, and when the user touches the bus arrival information, provides the bus arrival information to the user as voice through Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion, and when the user touches the bus arrival information again, wirelessly transmits the request for arrival guidance again to the boarding and alighting guidance terminal, and the boarding and alighting guidance terminal controls the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when the request for arrival guidance again is received from the user app or the user's common remote control.

[0020] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, when a plurality of buses stop at the bus stop and the boarding door opens, in the boarding support mode, the user app displays a plurality of bus arrival information for the plurality of buses in real time on the screen of the user terminal according to the arrival order of the plurality of buses, and when the user touches any bus arrival information included in the plurality of bus arrival information, the bus arrival information touched by the user is provided to the user as voice through Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion, and when the user touches the bus arrival information again, the request for arrival guidance is wirelessly transmitted to a boarding and alighting guidance terminal installed on the bus corresponding to the bus arrival information, and the boarding and alighting guidance terminal controls the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when the request for arrival guidance is received from the user app.

[0021] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, when a plurality of buses stop at the bus stop and the boarding doors open, in the boarding support mode, the user app wirelessly transmits the request for arrival guidance re-transmission to the boarding and alighting guidance terminals installed on the plurality of buses in the order of arrival of the plurality of buses, and the boarding and alighting guidance terminals installed on the plurality of buses control the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when the request for arrival guidance re-transmission is received from the user app.

[0022] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, a user app executed on a user terminal that receives bus arrival information from the boarding and alighting guidance terminal is characterized by providing advertising information to the user prior to the bus arrival information.

[0023] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for a visually impaired person according to the present invention, the boarding and alighting guidance terminal is characterized by wirelessly transmitting departure schedule information indicating the scheduled departure of the bus to the user terminal when the boarding door is closed and a boarding door closing signal is received from the boarding door opening / closing detection sensor, thereby controlling the boarding support mode performed in the user app to terminate and the alighting support mode to support the user's alighting to be performed.

[0024] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for a visually impaired person according to the present invention, in the alighting support mode, the user app displays a stop bell operation request button on the screen of the user terminal, and when the user touches the stop bell operation request button, provides information indicating that it is a stop bell operation request to the user in voice through Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion, and when the user touches the stop bell operation request button again, transmits the stop bell operation request to the boarding and alighting guidance terminal, and when the stop bell operation request is received from the user app or the user common remote control, the boarding and alighting guidance terminal controls the stop bell to operate by operating the alighting support relay.

[0025] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, the administrator app installed on the administrator terminal is characterized by including a function that adjusts the output volume of an external speaker outputting the arrival guidance sound according to time bands.

[0026] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, the administrator app further comprises a function for modifying the content of an arrival announcement sound output through the external speaker using a Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion method, a function for modifying the gender broadcast tone of the arrival announcement sound, a function for adjusting the output volume of the external speaker, a function for specifying the operating time of the boarding and alighting guidance terminal, and a function for adjusting the strength of a wireless signal for wireless communication with the boarding and alighting guidance terminal.

[0027] In a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to the present invention, the first wireless communication method is a Bluetooth communication method, and the second wireless communication method is an RF communication method. Effects of the invention

[0029] According to the present invention, a bus boarding and alighting support system for the visually impaired is provided, which can safely and efficiently support the boarding and alighting of the bus for the visually impaired while utilizing low cost and a simple system configuration.

[0030] In addition, it is effective in resolving the problem where visually impaired individuals cannot verify whether the bus currently at the bus stop is the one they need to board by providing route number announcements from the bus.

[0031] In addition, it is effective in resolving the problem of visually impaired individuals having difficulty boarding a bus because they cannot determine the stopping location, direction, distance, or boarding gate location, by providing guidance through the route number announcement at the boarding gate.

[0032] In addition, when multiple buses arrive at a bus stop simultaneously, stop at their respective locations, and open their boarding gates, it provides real-time information on the status of arriving buses by route number, allowing visually impaired individuals to identify and select the route number of the bus they wish to board, thereby effectively supporting their accurate boarding.

[0033] In addition, it effectively resolves the problem of visually impaired individuals finding it difficult to use buses because they cannot locate the stop request bell, by allowing them to remotely operate the existing stop request bell via a shared remote control or app.

[0034] In addition, to ensure the safe use of buses by the visually impaired, it recognizes the moment the boarding door opens after the bus has stopped as the bus has arrived, and provides route number announcements and app displays, thereby effectively supporting the boarding and alighting of the bus safely and efficiently. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0036] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired people according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing exemplarily showing a boarding and alighting guidance terminal in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary operation configuration that can be performed during a ride in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an exemplary operation configuration that can be performed during the unloading process in one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0037] Specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments according to the concept of the present invention disclosed herein are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0038] Since embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be subject to various modifications and may take various forms, embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in this specification. However, this is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, and includes all modifications, equivalents, or substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined herein.

[0040] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired people according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an exemplary boarding and alighting guidance terminal in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bus boarding and alighting support system for a visually impaired person according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a boarding and alighting guidance terminal (10), an external speaker (20), a disembarking support relay (30), a user terminal (40), a user common remote control (50), and an administrator terminal (60).

[0043] The boarding and alighting guidance terminal (10) is installed inside the bus and is a component that supports bus boarding and alighting guidance for visually impaired people.

[0044] For example, when a request for a stop bell operation is received from a user terminal (40) or a user common remote control (50) carried by a user boarding the bus, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) can control the stop bell to operate without the user physically pressing the stop bell by operating a stop support relay (30) connected in parallel to a stop bell switch (70) provided inside the bus.

[0045] Additionally, for example, when the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receives a boarding door opening signal from a boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80) that detects the opening / closing of the boarding door after the bus arrives and the boarding door is opened, it can control the bus arrival guidance sound to be output at least once through an external speaker (20), and wirelessly transmit bus arrival information including the bus route number to a user terminal (40) so that a boarding support mode is performed in which the bus arrival information is displayed through a user app running on the user terminal (40).

[0046] Specific and exemplary configurations of the boarding and alighting guidance terminal (10) will be described later.

[0047] The external speaker (20) is a component installed outside the bus boarding gate and outputs an arrival announcement sound including the bus route number. For example, the external speaker (20) may be detachably installed on a side mirror support or the like installed outside the bus boarding gate, but the installation location of the external speaker (20) is not limited to this and may be installed at any location that can guide the visually impaired person to the bus boarding gate by guiding the visually impaired person to the boarding gate.

[0048] The disembarking support relay (30) is connected in parallel to the disembarking bell switch (70) and operates under the control of the boarding / disembarking guidance terminal (10), so that the disembarking bell operates even without the user physically pressing the disembarking bell.

[0049] The user terminal (40) is a terminal carried by a user, such as a visually impaired person, and the user terminal (40) has a user app installed that communicates with a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed inside the bus using a first wireless communication method. For example, the first wireless communication method may be a Bluetooth communication method, but is not limited thereto.

[0050] The user common remote control (50) is also a terminal carried by a user, such as a visually impaired person, and communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed inside the bus using a second wireless communication method. For example, the user common remote control (50) may be equipped with a button for selecting a request for arrival guidance re-request and a button for selecting a request for a stop bell operation. For example, the second wireless communication method may be an RF communication method, but is not limited thereto.

[0051] The manager terminal (60) is a terminal carried by a manager who manages the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed inside the bus, and the manager terminal (60) has a manager app installed that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) using a first wireless communication method.

[0052] For example, when the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receives a boarding door opening signal from a boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80) that detects the opening / closing of the boarding door after the bus arrives and the boarding door is opened, it can control the bus arrival guidance sound to be output at least once through an external speaker (20), and wirelessly transmit bus arrival information including the bus route number to a user terminal (40) so that a boarding support mode is performed in which the bus arrival information is displayed through a user app running on the user terminal (40).

[0053] As a specific example, in boarding assistance mode, the user app displays bus arrival information on the screen of the user terminal (40), and when the user touches the bus arrival information, the bus arrival information is provided to the user as voice through Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion, and when the user touches the bus arrival information again, a request for arrival guidance is wirelessly transmitted to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10), and the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) can be controlled so that when a request for arrival guidance is received from the user app or the user's shared remote control (50), the arrival guidance sound is output again through the external speaker (20).

[0054] As another specific example, when multiple buses stop at a bus stop and the doors open, the boarding assistance mode can be performed manually based on user selection.

[0055] In this manual boarding assistance mode, the user app can display multiple bus arrival information for multiple buses in real time on the screen of the user terminal (40) according to the arrival order of multiple buses. When the user touches any bus arrival information included in the multiple bus arrival information, the user app can provide the bus arrival information touched by the user as voice to the user through Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion. When the user touches the bus arrival information again, the user app can wirelessly transmit a request for arrival guidance again to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed on the bus corresponding to the bus arrival information. When the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed on the bus receives a request for arrival guidance again from the user app, it can be controlled so that an arrival guidance sound is re-output through an external speaker (20) installed on the bus.

[0056] As another specific example, when multiple buses stop at a bus stop and the doors open, the boarding assistance mode may be performed automatically without user intervention.

[0057] In this automatic boarding assistance mode, the user app can wirelessly transmit a request for arrival guidance to boarding / alighting guidance terminals (10) installed on multiple buses in the order of arrival of multiple buses. When a request for arrival guidance is received from the user app, the boarding / alighting guidance terminals (10) installed on multiple buses can be controlled to re-output an arrival guidance sound through external speakers (20) installed on multiple buses. In this process, since the arrival guidance sound is re-output according to the order of arrival of multiple buses, a visually impaired person can use the multiple arrival guidance sounds that are sequentially re-output as a kind of landmark to identify the location of the boarding gate of the bus they wish to board.

[0058] For example, a user app running on a user terminal (40) that receives bus arrival information from a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) can be configured to provide advertising information to the user prior to the bus arrival information.

[0059] For example, when the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receives a boarding / alighting door closing signal from the boarding / alighting door opening / closing detection sensor (80) when the boarding door is closed, it can wirelessly transmit departure schedule information indicating the bus's departure schedule to the user terminal (40) to control the boarding support mode performed in the user app to end and the alighting support mode to support the user's alighting to be performed.

[0060] As a specific example, in the disembarking support mode, the user app displays a disembarking bell operation request button on the screen of the user terminal (40), and when the user touches the disembarking bell operation request button, provides information indicating that it is a disembarking bell operation request to the user in voice through TTS (Text To Speech) conversion, and when the user touches the disembarking bell operation request button again, transmits a disembarking bell operation request to the boarding / disembarking guidance terminal (10), and when the boarding / disembarking guidance terminal (10) receives a disembarking bell operation request from the user app or the user common remote control (50), it can control the disembarking support relay (30) to operate the disembarking bell.

[0061] For example, an administrator app installed on an administrator terminal (60) may be configured to include a function that adjusts the output volume of an external speaker (20) that outputs an arrival notification sound according to time bands.

[0062] Additionally, the administrator app may be configured to further include a function to modify the content of the arrival announcement sound output through the external speaker (20) using a TTS (Text To Speech) conversion method, a function to modify the gender (male / female) broadcast tone of the arrival announcement sound, a function to adjust the output volume of the external speaker (20), a function to specify the operation time of the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10), and a function to adjust the strength of the wireless signal for wireless communication with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10).

[0063] Referring to the example in FIG. 2, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) may be configured to include a first wireless communication module (110), a second wireless communication module (120), a sound source storage unit (130), an amplifier unit (140), a main control unit (150), a relay control unit (160), and a DC / DC converter (170).

[0064] The first wireless communication module (110) supports wireless communication between a user app installed on a user terminal (40), a manager app installed on a manager terminal (60), and a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10), and may be, for example, a Bluetooth (BLE) communication module.

[0065] The second wireless communication module (120) supports wireless communication between a user-friendly remote control (50) for the visually impaired and a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10), and may be, for example, a 358Mhz RF communication module.

[0066] The sound source storage unit (130) stores a sound source for bus route number voice guidance.

[0067] The amplifier section (140) amplifies the sound source stored in the sound source storage section (130) and transmits it to the external speaker (20).

[0068] The main control unit (150) performs various control functions related to bus boarding and alighting guidance. For example, the main control unit (150) can detect the opening and closing of the boarding door using data received from the boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80), perform control operations corresponding to the opening and closing, and light up an external status indicator (90) that can be installed on the outside of the bus to display the current operating status to the outside, and the control operations performed by the main control unit (150) are not limited thereto.

[0069] The relay control unit (160) controls the operation of the disembarking support relay (30) for operation linked with the disembarking bell.

[0070] A DC / DC converter (170) converts an external power supply (100, e.g., DC 24V) provided in the bus into an operating power supply (e.g., DC 9V or 15V) for the components of a bus boarding and alighting assistance system for the visually impaired.

[0071] Below, with additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the specific operation configuration of a bus boarding and alighting support system for the visually impaired is explained exemplarily by dividing it into a boarding process and an alighting process.

[0072] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary operation configuration that can be performed during a ride in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Referring further to FIG. 3, in step S100, when the boarding door is opened after the bus arrives at the bus stop, a boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80) installed on the bus detects the opening of the boarding door and transmits a boarding door opening signal to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10).

[0074] In step S110, a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed inside the bus may receive a boarding door opening signal from a boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80).

[0075] In step S120, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) may output an arrival announcement sound one or more times through an external speaker (20) installed outside the boarding gate of the bus. For example, the arrival announcement sound output through the external speaker (20) may include the route number of the bus that has arrived at the bus stop. Specifically, the arrival announcement sound may be "Bus No. 123 has arrived."

[0076] In step S130, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) may perform a process of wirelessly transmitting bus arrival information, including the bus route number, to the user terminal (40) via Bluetooth communication.

[0077] In step S140, a process of executing a boarding support mode can be performed while the user app installed on the user terminal (40) displays bus arrival information on the screen of the user terminal (40).

[0078] In step S150, the process of the user touching the bus arrival information displayed on the screen of the user terminal (40) by the user app may be performed.

[0079] In step S160, the user app may perform a process of converting bus arrival information touched by the user into TTS and providing it to the user as voice through the speaker of the user terminal (40), thereby allowing the user to recognize the route number of the bus.

[0080] In step S170, a process may be performed in which a user who recognizes the route number of the bus via voice touches the bus arrival information again.

[0081] In step S180, when the user touches the bus arrival information again, the user app wirelessly transmits a request for arrival guidance again to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) via Bluetooth communication, and the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receives the request for arrival guidance again from the user.

[0082] In step S190, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10), having received a request for arrival guidance from the user, may perform a process of re-outputting an arrival guidance sound through an external speaker (20).

[0083] For example, the process of re-outputting the arrival announcement sound using a user app in steps S130 to S190 may be replaced with the process of re-outputting the arrival announcement sound using a user shared remote control (50). As a specific example, the process of re-outputting the arrival announcement sound using a user shared remote control (50) may include the process of a user who audibly perceives the arrival announcement sound output through an external speaker (20) via step S120 pressing an arrival announcement sound re-output button equipped on a user shared remote control (50) that the user shared remote control (50) wirelessly transmits a request for re-outputting the arrival announcement sound to a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed on the bus via RF communication, and the process of the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receiving the request for re-outputting the arrival announcement sound from the user shared remote control (50) controlling the arrival announcement sound to be re-output through the external speaker (20).

[0084] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an exemplary operation configuration that can be performed during the unloading process in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] Referring further to FIG. 4, in step S200, when the boarding door is closed after the user boards the bus, the boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80) detects the closure of the boarding door and transmits a boarding door closing signal to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10).

[0086] In step S210, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) may receive a boarding door closing signal from the boarding door opening / closing detection sensor (80).

[0087] In step S220, the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) may perform a process of wirelessly transmitting departure schedule information, which indicates the scheduled departure of the bus, to the user terminal (40) via Bluetooth communication.

[0088] In step S230, a process may be performed in which a user app that has received departure scheduled information from a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) terminates the boarding support mode running on the user terminal (40) and executes the alighting support mode.

[0089] In step S240, the user app displays a stop bell operation request button on the screen of the user terminal (40), and the process of the user touching the stop bell operation request button may be performed. For example, the process of the user touching the stop bell operation request button may be performed after the user audibly confirms the stop arrival announcement sound broadcast on the bus.

[0090] In step S250, a process may be performed to convert information indicating that the user app is a request for a stop bell operation into TTS and provide it to the user as voice through the speaker of the user terminal (40).

[0091] In step S260, the process of the user re-touching the stop bell operation request button can be performed.

[0092] In step S270, the user app wirelessly transmits a request for a stop bell operation to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) via Bluetooth communication, and the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receives the request for a stop bell operation.

[0093] In step S280, a process may be performed in which the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) operates the alighting support relay (30) so that the alighting bell operates even without the user physically pressing the alighting bell. For example, the alighting support relay (30) is connected in parallel to the alighting bell switch (70) and operates according to the control of the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) so that the alighting bell operates even without the user physically pressing the alighting bell.

[0094] For example, the process of requesting a stop bell operation using a user app in steps S200 to S280 may be replaced with the process of requesting a stop bell operation using a user common remote control (50). As a specific example, the process of requesting a stop bell operation using a user common remote control (50) may include the process of a user who has audibly confirmed the stop arrival announcement sound broadcast on the bus pressing a stop bell operation request button equipped on the user common remote control (50) that he / she carries, the process of the user common remote control (50) wirelessly transmitting the stop bell operation request to a boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) installed on the bus via RF communication, and the process of the boarding / alighting guidance terminal (10) receiving the stop bell operation request from the user common remote control (50) operating a disembarking support relay (30) connected in parallel to the stop bell switch (70) so that the stop bell operates without the user physically pressing the stop bell.

[0096] As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, there is an effect of providing a bus boarding and alighting support system for the visually impaired that can safely and efficiently support the boarding and alighting of the bus for the visually impaired while utilizing low cost and a simple system configuration.

[0097] In addition, it is effective in resolving the problem where visually impaired individuals cannot verify whether the bus currently at the bus stop is the one they need to board by providing route number announcements from the bus.

[0098] In addition, it is effective in resolving the problem of visually impaired individuals having difficulty boarding a bus because they cannot determine the stopping location, direction, distance, or boarding gate location, by providing guidance through the route number announcement at the boarding gate.

[0099] In addition, when multiple buses arrive at a bus stop simultaneously, stop at their respective locations, and open their boarding gates, it provides real-time information on the status of arriving buses by route number, allowing visually impaired individuals to identify and select the route number of the bus they wish to board, thereby effectively supporting their accurate boarding.

[0100] In addition, it effectively resolves the problem of visually impaired individuals finding it difficult to use buses because they cannot locate the stop request bell, by allowing them to remotely operate the existing stop request bell via a shared remote control or app.

[0101] In addition, to ensure the safe use of buses by the visually impaired, it recognizes the moment the boarding door opens after the bus has stopped as the bus has arrived, and provides route number announcements and app displays, thereby effectively supporting the boarding and alighting of the bus safely and efficiently. Explanation of the symbols

[0103] 10: Boarding and Alighting Information Terminal 20: External speaker 30: Disembarkation Support Relay 40: User terminal 50: User shared remote control 60: Administrator Terminal 70: Stop request switch 80: Door opening / closing detection sensor 90: External status indicator 100: External power supply 110: First wireless communication module 120: Second wireless communication module 130: Audio storage unit 140: Amplifier section 150: Main control unit 160: Relay control unit 170: DC / DC Converter

Claims

Claim 1 A boarding / alighting guidance terminal installed inside the bus to support boarding / alighting guidance for visually impaired persons; an external speaker installed outside the boarding gate of the bus to output an arrival guidance sound including the bus route number; a user terminal with a user app installed that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal via a first wireless communication method; and a user common remote control that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal via a second wireless communication method. The system includes a manager terminal with a manager app installed that communicates with the boarding / alighting guidance terminal via the first wireless communication method, wherein the boarding / alighting guidance terminal controls the arrival guidance sound to be output through the external speaker when the boarding door installed at the boarding opening of the bus is opened after the bus arrives at the bus stop, and controls the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when a request for re-arrival guidance is received from a user terminal or a user-shared remote control held by a user intending to board the bus, and controls the arrival guidance sound to be output one or more times through the external speaker when the boarding door is opened after the bus arrives and receives a boarding door opening signal from a boarding door opening / closing detection sensor that detects the opening / closing of the boarding door, and controls the bus arrival information including the bus route number to be wirelessly transmitted to the user terminal so that a boarding support mode is performed in which the bus arrival information is displayed through a user app running on the user terminal, and in the boarding support mode, the user app displays the bus arrival information on the screen of the user terminal, and when the user touches the bus arrival information, the bus arrival information is converted into TTS (Text To Speech). Provided to the user via voice through this, and when the user touches the bus arrival information again, wirelessly transmits the request for the arrival guidance again to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal,The boarding / alighting guidance terminal controls the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when a request for re-arrival guidance is received from the user app or the user's shared remote control; the boarding / alighting guidance terminal controls the departure schedule information indicating the bus's scheduled departure to be wirelessly transmitted to the user terminal when the boarding door is closed and a door closure signal is received from the boarding door opening / closing detection sensor, thereby automatically terminating the boarding support mode performed in the user app and controlling the execution of the disembarking support mode to assist the user in disembarking; in the disembarking support mode, the user app displays a disembarking bell operation request button on the screen of the user terminal, and when the user touches the disembarking bell operation request button, provides information indicating that it is a request for disembarking bell operation to the user as voice through TTS (Text To Speech) conversion, and when the user touches the disembarking bell operation request button again, transmits the disembarking bell operation request to the boarding / alighting guidance terminal, and when the boarding / alighting guidance terminal receives the disembarking bell operation request from the user app or the user's shared remote control, activates the disembarking support relay to cause the disembarking bell to operate. A bus boarding and alighting assistance system for the visually impaired, characterized by controlling. Claim 2 A bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to claim 1, wherein the boarding and alighting guidance terminal controls the operation of a disembarking support relay connected in parallel to a disembarking bell switch provided inside the bus so that the disembarking bell operates without the user physically pressing the disembarking bell when a request for disembarking bell operation is received from a user terminal or a user common remote control held by a user boarding the bus. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of buses stop at the bus stop and the boarding door opens, in the boarding support mode, the user app displays a plurality of bus arrival information for the plurality of buses in real time on the screen of the user terminal according to the arrival order of the plurality of buses, and when the user touches any bus arrival information included in the plurality of bus arrival information, the bus arrival information touched by the user is provided to the user as voice through Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion, and when the user touches the bus arrival information again, the request for re-arrival guidance is wirelessly transmitted to a boarding and alighting guidance terminal installed on the bus corresponding to the bus arrival information, and when the boarding and alighting guidance terminal receives the request for re-arrival guidance from the user app, the arrival guidance sound is controlled to be re-output through the external speaker. Claim 6 A bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of buses stop at the bus stop and the boarding door opens, in the boarding support mode, the user app wirelessly transmits the request for arrival guidance to boarding and alighting guidance terminals installed on the plurality of buses in the order of arrival of the plurality of buses, and the boarding and alighting guidance terminals installed on the plurality of buses control the arrival guidance sound to be re-output through the external speaker when the request for arrival guidance is received from the user app. Claim 7 A bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons according to claim 1, wherein a user app executed on a user terminal that receives bus arrival information from the boarding and alighting guidance terminal provides advertising information to the user prior to the bus arrival information. Claim 8 delete Claim 9 delete Claim 10 A bus boarding and alighting support system for the visually impaired according to paragraph 2, characterized in that the administrator app installed on the administrator terminal includes a function to adjust the output volume of an external speaker that outputs the arrival guidance sound according to time bands. Claim 11 A bus boarding and alighting support system for the visually impaired according to claim 10, wherein the above-mentioned administrator app further includes a function to modify the content of an arrival announcement sound output through the above-mentioned external speaker using a TTS (Text To Speech) conversion method, a function to modify the gender broadcast tone of the above-mentioned arrival announcement sound, a function to adjust the output volume of the above-mentioned external speaker, a function to specify the operating time of the above-mentioned boarding and alighting guidance terminal, and a function to adjust the strength of a wireless signal for wireless communication with the above-mentioned boarding and alighting guidance terminal. Claim 12 A bus boarding and alighting support system for visually impaired persons, characterized in that, in claim 1, the first wireless communication method is a Bluetooth communication method and the second wireless communication method is an RF communication method.

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