Adaptive Floor Display for Fare Gate Passenger Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fare gates, such as turnstiles, have limited display capabilities, allowing only simple messages and causing delays and crowding as passengers must seek additional information at designated areas, especially in high-traffic environments like public transit systems.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a ticket validation device, a display device, and a tracking system, where the computer server system receives ticket data and position information to display customized images on the floor, ensuring relevant information is presented to passengers in real-time as they pass through the gate, allowing for multiple passengers to receive different information simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional turnstile displays are used, then device complexity is reduced, but information delivery capability deteriorates causing delays and crowding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger processing speedVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional vertical wall-mounted displays to horizontal floor-proximity displays. By changing the spatial dimension and orientation of the display interface, passengers receive information in their natural line of sight while walking, eliminating the need to stop or look up, thereby improving processing speed without significantly increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary tracking mechanism that detects passenger presence and dynamically controls display activation. This mediator coordinates between ticket validation status and information delivery timing, ensuring displays activate only when needed and reducing overall system complexity through intelligent resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If simple messages are displayed on turnstiles, then device complexity is minimized, but information completeness deteriorates requiring passengers to seek additional information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading and preparing multiple information displays in advance. When a passenger approaches, the system has already validated their ticket and prepared the corresponding information sequence, ensuring complete information delivery without requiring additional stops or interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous information delivery through a sequence of displays that follow the passenger through the gate area. Rather than providing isolated messages, the system maintains continuous information flow across multiple display points, ensuring completeness while managing complexity through coordinated sequential activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If customized information is displayed to each passenger, then information relevance is improved, but device complexity increases due to tracking and positioning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation customization capabilityVSAvoidtracking system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs self-service tracking where passengers' positions are automatically detected and tracked without manual intervention. The tracking system works autonomously to identify passengers, validate their tickets, and deliver personalized information sequences, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback loops where the tracking system continuously monitors passenger position and adjusts display activation accordingly. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures information is delivered to the correct passenger at the correct location, achieving customization while managing complexity through automated closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple passengers receive different information simultaneously, then information personalization is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to simultaneous display control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-passenger information deliveryVSAvoiddisplay control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display system into multiple independent display units distributed along the gate path. Each display unit can be independently controlled and activated based on individual passenger positions, enabling simultaneous personalized information delivery while reducing overall control complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts display activation and content based on real-time passenger detection and positioning. Rather than static predetermined sequences, the display control adapts dynamically to actual passenger flow patterns, enabling flexible multi-passenger support while managing complexity through event-driven control logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9582941B2Adaptive gate walkway floor display
Publication Date: 2017.02.28 CUBIC TRANSPORTATION SYST INC
  • US9582941B2 patent drawing
  • US9582941B2 patent drawing
  • US9582941B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and techniques are presented for displaying information customized for a ticket of a fare gate. Ticket information for the ticket is received via a ticket validation device. A customized image for the ticket is determined based on the ticket information. Further, a first position of an object is detected within an area of the floor. Based on the first position of the object, a second position within the area for displaying the customized image is determined. The second position is proximate to the first position. A display image is determined for the area and the display image includes the customized image at the second position. The display image is displayed within the area on the floor.