2456 results about "Transit system" patented technology

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for enabling payment of transit system fees using a financial transaction instrument. Entry is permitted onto a transit system by recognition of information included in an identification number stored on a financial transaction instrument. The identification number stored on the financial transaction instrument is associated with a transit system fee registered for each use of the transit system. A plurality of transit system fees associated with the same identification number from use of the financial transaction instrument is aggregated, and payment for the aggregated transit system fees is requested from a transaction account associated with the financial transaction instrument.

A system and method for providing position information of a transit object to a computing device is provided. Global positioning satellite (GPS) information of a transit object can be periodically received. For each of some of the GPS information, one or more candidate points of a transit system can be identified based on the GPS information. Using the one or more candidate points, a most likely path of travel can be determined. Additional position points along the most likely path of travel can be extrapolated and transmitted to a computing device.

A automatic-transport system with scanning and GPS functions for moving people or objects, on platforms or items placed on an automatic-transport system that can be ejected from it and delivered from one location to another and to return automatically or to proceed to other destination(s) by following GPS coordinates, and or by following a line painted or taped to a floor through forward looking scanners built into the automatic-transport system. The automatic-transport system can arrive at a destination and give an alert when it has arrived. Electromechanical system(s) aboard the unit can drop off contents automatically at destinations and load or unload cargo. The transport unit can proceed from one location to another stored in its memory and or it may be redirected by its circuitry or remotely through a wireless port, or directed by GPS or radio control circuits to a further destination.

What is disclosed in this application is: an Internet payment system. An Internet payment system comprising a user device with a processor, Internet connection apparatus and an Internet browser. The Internet payment system also includes a participating merchant server supporting web pages on which product or service offerings are displayed in response to queries from the user device using the connections apparatus and browser. The merchant server interacting with the user device browser permits a user to select at least one offering and to indicate a method of payment, at least one method of payment being a transfer link. The Internet payment system also comprises a participating financial institution server maintained by a financial institution at which the user has a financial account. The server permits the user to gain direct access to his financial account. In addition, the Internet payment system includes a main transportation server to which both the user device and merchant server are connected in response to the user selecting the transfer link as the method of payment. The merchant server transmits information to the main transport server regarding payment required for the selected offering and the main transport server provides a selection of financial institutions from which the user can select an institute at which he has an account for payment for the offering. The main transport server transmits user inputs directly to the financial institution server to authorize payment to the merchant for the offering without storing the inputs.

The network system matches the supply and demand of transportation services by incorporating unused transportation capacity (i.e., empty seats) with a real-time allocation and matching service that enables individuals and goods to conveniently hire that capacity with attractive pricing, rapid responsiveness, better information availability and trusted security. The network system provides an electronic registry of capacity containing an indication of the spare transport capacity and location of a plurality of transport vehicles, an electronic registry of demand containing an indication of the demand for transportation needs of a plurality of individuals and a central processing capability to effect a match of the transport capacity of at least one transport vehicle with the transport demand of at least one individual.

Embodiments of systems and methods are disclosed for providing messages based on an identified ridership pattern of a user of a transit system. Embodiments can include receiving information associated with a plurality of transactions of the user of the transit system, and identifying a ridership pattern of the user of the transit system. A predicted time and duration that the user of the transit system will be at a predicted location can be determined based, at least in part, on the identified ridership pattern. A message can be formulated using this information, and the message can be sent to the user or other message subscriber. Messages can include a variety of information, including advertisements, transit status updates, and more.

A public transportation system includes control by highly distributed communications, ultra-light transit vehicles suspended from single or dual rails and powered by electricity. The electric power supplied independently and supplemented by wind generators and solar panels. The transit vehicles, are suitable to transport from one to four persons. The system includes a plurality interconnected rails with main conduits and station conduits to provide non-stop transportation from one station to another station.

A transportation system for secure, auditable and trackable smart mobile containers (SMC) for securely shipping less than truckload volumes of products that require special handing segregation as controlled products, such as ethical drugs, along with general, non-controlled merchandise. Dedicated semi-trailer lockers are secured under the deck I-beam framing, including lockable fold-down doors that become ramps for loading/unloading. The lockers are mounted back to back along the center line of the trailer under-deck. Each SMC includes a electronics package that can read RFID tags, has condition sensors and an RF module to permit remote monitoring of location and cargo/container conditions. The SMC can include an electronic lock that provides access security, and an audit trail of all opening and closing events.

A modular vehicle comprises a preassembled undercarriage module, a preassembled overcarriage module, and coupling means for releasably coupling the overcarriage module to the undercarriage module. The undercarriage module includes wheels for permitting travel of the vehicle on a travelling surface, means for holding a power source for supplying operating power to the vehicle, and means for directing controlled motive power from the power source to at least one of the wheels. The overcarriage module includes control means linkable with the undercarriage module for controlling operation of the vehicle. When the power source associated with a first undercarriage module is in need of maintenance service, there is provided a method of handling an overcarriage module coupled to the first undercarriage module comprising the steps of decoupling and separating the two modules; then releasably coupling the overcarriage module to a second one of such undercarriage modules, the associated power source of the second undercarriage module not being in need of maintenance service; then operating the overcarriage module and the second undercarriage module together as a vehicle while providing the maintenance service required by the power source of the first undercarriage module.

Embodiments of systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for enabling a mobile device having near-field communication (NFC) capabilities to be used as fare media at access control points of a transit system. Embodiments can include receiving a request for activation information from the mobile device to enable the device to transmit an identification code using NFC capabilities. Embodiments further include associating a funding source with the identification code and transmitting the activation information to the mobile device. The identification code can then be transmitted from the mobile device to an access control point, and a determination of whether to allow or deny passage of a user at the access control point can be made. The determination can be based, at least in part, on whether the identification code is included on a list. A transaction can then be associated with the identification code; and a value of the transaction can be reconciled with the funding source.

Aspects of the invention provide a transport system powered by short block Linear Synchronous Motors (LSMs). The use of short blocks allows vehicles to move under precise control even when they are in close proximity to each other. The design allows the vehicles to be propelled and guided while negotiating sharp turns and negotiating merge and diverge switches. A coreless LSM can be used to create propulsive force without attractive force so as to allow a relatively high drag vehicle suspension, such as a vehicle sliding on a smooth surface. Further aspects of the invention provide a switching member that is selectively moveable relative to a guideway in order to change a magnetic force acting on the vehicle transverse to a direction of motion of the vehicle.

Autonomous and manually operated vehicles are integrated into a cohesive, interactive environment, with communications to each other and to their surroundings, to improve traffic flow while reducing accidents and other incidents. All vehicles send/receive messages to/from each other, and from infrastructure devices, enabling the vehicles to determine their status, traffic conditions and infrastructure. The vehicles store and operate in accordance with a common set of rules based upon the messages received and other inputs from sensors, databases, and so forth, to avoid obstacles and collisions based upon current and, in some cases, future or predicted behavior. Shared vehicle control interfaces enable the AVs to conform to driving activities that are legal, safe, and allowable on roadways. Such activities enable each AV to drive within safety margins, speed limits, on allowed or legal driving lanes and through allowed turns, intersections, mergers, lane changes, stops/starts, and so forth.

A system and method for integrating air and ground transportation of passengers and cargo. The system comprises a plurality of universal passenger containers. The system further comprises a plurality of universal cargo containers. An airplane is provided with a hollow fuselage adapted to be loaded with a plurality of passenger and/or cargo containers. A flatbed trailer can be provided to carry a passenger or a cargo container. A tractor vehicle can be provided to transport flatbed trailers between airplanes, locations within the airport, and points of origin and destination outside the airport complex. A system can be provided to load and unload passenger and cargo containers into and out of airplanes at the airport. A system is provided comprised of an airport complex including take-off and landing runways, taxiways, airplane staging areas, apparatus for detection of weapons in passenger and cargo containers, and air terminals with arrival and departure gates and baggage handling conveyors. A system is also provided comprised of remote air terminals at strategic locations a distance from the airport complex.

A system and method in which a buyer registers for a buyer's shipping account and uses the shipping account to pay shipping costs associated with purchases made over the Internet. When a buyer purchases merchandise over the Internet from either a retailer's website or from an individual through an online auction, the buyer is capable of controlling the shipping process by logging on to their buyer's shipping account. Among other things, the buyer can use their shipping account to select the desired type of shipping service (overnight air or ground) and populate a shipping label with shipping information such as delivery address, return address, and preferred delivery time windows. Once the shipping label has been populated and verified, the shipping label is electronically transferred to the seller for use in shipping the package. The system and methods of the present invention allow the buyer greater control over the shipping process. In many cases, the present invention will also help buyers/receivers control costs by eliminating the shipper's shipping and handling fee.

An automated warehouse facility for warehousing and storing a plurality of items simultaneously in a plurality of varying levels, in which empty pallets circulate simultaneously with the main circulation of goods but separately from it without interfering with storing and retrieving goods on the all levels. The warehouse facility comprises a multi-level building having a plurality of storage racks for simultaneous and independent storing multiple loaded or unloaded pallets. An entrance-floor level of the building includes a terminal for receiving or releasing multiple items simultaneously through an exterior entrance. An interior entrance to the terminal provides access to the storage area and transportation of the loaded pallet. The warehouse facility includes a pallet stacking station for storing the unloaded pallet located over a shuttle aisle that extends under the terminal. A transport system provides simultaneous and independent transporting of the loaded pallet and unloaded items in the storage area.

An exemplary embodiment a substrate transport system is provided. The system has a guideway and at least one transport vehicle. The transport vehicle is adapted for holding at least one substrate and capable of being supported from and moving along the guideway. The guideway comprises at least one travel lane for the vehicle and at least one access lane offset from the travel lane allowing the vehicle selectable access on and off the travel lane.

A transport system composed of road side stations installed along roads and vehicles running on roads, wherein emergency processing at the time of an accident, a local information providing service, and so on are realized by the road side stations in cooperation of the road side stations and the respective vehicles. In the transport system, a plurality of road side stations are interconnected through a road side communication network, and a plurality of vehicles communicate with the road side stations. A vehicle transmits a request message containing a service code and location information. A road side station receiving the request message broadcasts the request message to the network. The road side stations receive the message, and determine whether or not requested processing should be executed based on the service code and the location information. When determining that the processing should be executed, the road side station executes processing indicated by the service code.

An evaluating apparatus arranged to evaluate an item-transport system having a flow path. The apparatus includes one or more position markers adjacent the path and an evaluating device for sensing the markers and conditions of the transport system. The evaluating device has at least one evaluation sensor configured to (A) sense conditions of the transport system and (B) produce evaluation-sensor data based on the sensed conditions. The evaluating device also has a position-marker sensor configured to sense the position markers and produce position-marker data. The apparatus further includes a distance meter configured to produce distance data and at least one computing device configured to determine a particular location at which the evaluating device was along the path of the item-transport system when a particular condition of the item-transport system was sensed based on the evaluation-sensor data, the position-marker data, and the distance data.